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The 7 Best Portable and Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspots for Travel in 2024

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

823 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63 U.S. States Visited: 9

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

41 Published Articles 3360 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 50 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

What is a mobile wi-fi hotspot, things to look for in a mobile wi-fi hotspot, frequencies explained: the difference between gsm and cdma, the 7 best mobile wi-fi hotspots for travel, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Whether you want to update your Insta on the go or need to keep in touch with the office, losing your internet signal can be very frustrating.

But it’s annoying (and can be unsafe) to rely on public Wi-Fi signals in every coffee shop you visit, and sometimes when traveling to remote locations, public connections are just not available.

Instead, you can invest in a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot to ensure safe, secure, and reliable internet access anywhere you go. Here’s what you need to consider when choosing the best one for you.

A Wi-Fi hotspot is a battery-powered wireless router that travels with you. Designed to be compact and lightweight enough to slip into your purse or pocket, a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot device brings the internet to your phone, tablet, or laptop, no matter where in the world it finds you.

These gadgets are a big bonus for anyone traveling away from public Wi-Fi or those looking for a secure connection. A bit like a cellular device, your Wi-Fi hotspot provides access to invisible signals in the sky, all of which can help you to upload pics or receive your emails on the move.

You will need to pay for the data you use, which can be done in the form of packages or day passes that offer unlimited access for a set period of time.

Bottom Line: Using 3G or 4G (and maybe even 5G in the coming months), these smart little devices emit a reliable and incredibly useful Wi-Fi signal that you can hook your favorite gadgets and devices to while away from home.

Battery Life

Most batteries will run happily for between 5-6 hours at a time. If you are traveling somewhere with easy access to electricity, you should be able to charge overnight to ensure your hotspot works when you need it for your daily adventures. If you spend a disproportionately large amount of time online, you may want to look at a device that offers a longer battery life.

Size and Weight

Your Wi-Fi hotspot should be small enough to be carried everywhere with you. After all, if it’s not entirely portable, what exactly is the point? Slimline, lightweight, and often smaller than the smartphone you are trying to connect to, these devices are compact and clever.

Wi-Fi Support

Because some mobile internet providers are better than others, the coverage you receive from any Wi-Fi hotspot can also vary. For example, 2.4GHz gives coverage at a more extended range but will transmit the data at a much slower speed. A 5GHz band, on the other hand, will provide less range with data transmitted at a much faster speed.

Though they may be small, they are still mighty, and most hotspot devices will have a built-in display. At the very least, the display should indicate remaining battery life and current Wi-Fi signal strength. Others may offer bonus features like SMS messages or touch screen modes.

Card Reader

Some portable Wi-Fi hotspots come with the capability to read MicroSD memory cards, which can be used to store and access files from your laptop or home computer. You can also share your stored files with the people who use your network when you want them to have access.

MicroSD memory cards are not typically included with the purchase of a Wi-Fi hotspot, but they are a useful addition that allows you to send and receive SMS messages and save images, music, and other data-heavy files.

Mobile data is delivered using 1 of 2 types of cellular signals in different countries and regions around the world. These cellular standards allow for communication between individuals; without them, we would not be able to keep in touch on such a global scale.

Known as GSM and CDMA, each standard converts both incoming and outgoing radio waves in entirely different ways. Before you buy a hotspot, you need to understand its function and where you’ll be able to use it.

Global System for Mobile Communication is used in most countries around the world. In the U.S., only AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. GSM uses Time Division Multiple Access (or TDMA), which allocates time slots to multiple conversation streams and alters how phones transmit their information. Doing this requires a SIM card (or “subscriber identification module” card).

It is the SIM card that holds all the information you need to make calls, use mobile internet, and store your contacts. The SIM card tells the device what services you have access to and is vital for GSM communications on the go.

CDMA is used in countries including Russia and the U.S. ( Sprint , Verizon , and US Cellular), and it grants users full access to a wide spectrum of bandwidth, meaning more users can connect at any one time. It also encodes each signal, meaning that every conversation remains protected and filtered.

CDMA does not rely on SIM cards as the device has the technology built into it from the carriers’ networks. This once meant that if you wanted to change carriers, you would need to buy a new device altogether. These days though, many CDMA devices offer the capability to use a SIM card too, especially for those on LTE networks.

Bottom Line: Different countries (and different carriers) use different technologies. In the U.S., Sprint, Verizon, and US Cellular use CDMA, while AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. When it comes to purchasing a hotspot, make sure you understand what type you’re buying, what countries it will work in, and what providers it will function with.

1. Keep in Touch Wherever You Are Using the GlocalMe 4G LTE Network

GlocalMe DuoTurbo 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

With a global SIM-free connection, you can quickly and easily access the internet without worrying about a local SIM card or roaming charges. The 4G LTE high-speed network connects up to 10 devices at a time. Enjoy an innovative GlocalMe app that uses a dedicated security protocol to ensure your Wi-Fi connection is always safe.

You can also easily manage your data usage from anywhere in the world. With an initial 1.1 GB of global data and 8 GB U.S. data included to see you on your way, you can easily top up your data using the GlocalMe app, which is specifically designed to work in a variety of different countries and regions.

Bottom Line: With 1 Nano SIM card slot and the ability to connect to unlocked Wi-Fi hotspots wherever you are, the G4 will provide you with up to 12 hours of nonstop usage from a single charge.

2. Rapid Download Speeds and Superfast Internet on the Go

Huawei E5577Cs-321 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot

Huawei’s Wi-FI hotspot is both affordable and reliable — and it’s good enough to give some of the more prominent brand alternatives a real run for their money.

This hotspot offers rapid download speeds of up to 150 Mbps 4G LTE and 43.2 Mbps 3G download , connection for up to 10 Wi-Fi enabled devices, 6 hours of working time, and a whopping 300 hours of standby time.

Bottom Line: The TFT-LCD screen with 2D Barcode secure connection is easy to use, and the device itself is unlocked for all networks — you can even choose your SIM card if you want to.

3. Best for Professionals Who Need To Keep Connected

Huawei  E5576-320  4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi Router

This high-speed mobile router and multi-mode wireless terminal is for use in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

The hotspot offers 16 Wi-Fi connections at a time, and the unlocked carrier connection means you can use 3G signals from any provider. Controllable via the innovative Huawei Mobile Wi-Fi app, you can enjoy uploads and connectivity for up to 6 hours using the 1500 mAh battery.

Bottom Line: While this device model will not work in the Americas or the United States, it is an affordable solution for those traveling to other parts of the world.

4. A Powerful Global WI-Fi Hotspot for Use in Over 160 Countries

RoamWiFi 4G LTE WiFi Mobile Hotspot Router

The RoamWiFi Mobile Router is a powerful global Wi-Fi hotspot with super-fast 4G LTE speeds that can be used in over 160 different countries and shared to 5 connections. Sleek and stylish, the simple orange hotspot can be stored in your carry-on luggage and will be easy to find when you get there.

By far, the most impressive feature of this particular model is the whopping 18 hours of battery life . 500MB of data can be purchased for as little as $2.90 per day.

Bottom Line: All-in-all, this is a tremendous little Wi-Fi hotspot for your next adventure.

5. Compact and Capable Offering 18 Hours of Battery Life

Netgear Unite Explore AC815S Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot

This slim 4G LTE-capable device provides super-fast internet and as much as 18 hours of battery life on a single charge to as many as 15 Wi-Fi devices on the go.

Super easy to use, the color LCD screen shows you all the network info you need, as well as displaying battery life and connectivity levels.

Bottom Line: Made by one of the most trusted names in communications, the Unite Explore is a reliable Wi-Fi hotspot for travelers looking for longer battery life.

6. Superfast Connectivity in Over 135 Countries

SIMO Solis Lite 4G LTE WiFi Mobile Hotspot

With no contract or SIM card required, this convenient little device will ensure you’re always connected on the go. The virtual SIM technology is compatible with most major carriers, and you can control everything through the handy Solis WiFi app.

You can connect up to 10 different devices with up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge. As well as keeping you connected, this mobile hotspot doubles up as a power bank, so you’ll never run out of charge.

Bottom Line: With SIMO Solis, users can enjoy day pass Wi-Fi, pay as you go access by gigabyte, or monthly and yearly subscriptions.

7. Connect 10 Wi-Fi Enabled Devices With This Verizon Jetpack

Verizon MiFi Jetpack 4620L

Brought to you by the communication experts at Verizon, this MiFi Jetpack offers superior connectivity and speedy internet access virtually anywhere in the world. With the ability to connect up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices in 4G and up to 5 devices in 3G, this is one of the most effective LTE hotspot devices on the market.

Compatible with all major operating systems including Windows, Mac OSX, Android, and iOS, you can quickly and easily connect your phone, tablet, or laptop. The interactive OLED display shows you when you are connected, as well as the connection status and how many users are connected. It can even alert you when you receive a new SMS message.

Bottom Line: With up to 5 hours of usage available from a single charge, this impressive MiFi mobile Wi-Fi device is one of the most effective LTE hotspot devices on the market.

With a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, you are no longer at the mercy of unsecured, cumbersome, and often super-slow public Wi-Fi signals when you take to the road. Your very own Wi-Fi allows you to download data, upload images, and keep in touch with civilization, no matter how far away you go.

Before you commit to a connection, look for a mobile Wi-Fi device that is compact and portable with a large enough battery to last you all day. Your new Wi-Fi hotspot should also be simple to use, easy to connect to, and ideally able to offer a connection to several different devices (especially if you’re traveling with friends).

Lastly, don’t miss these other tech-related product reviews to level up your travel game!

• The Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers for Travel
• What are the Best GoPro Alternatives? [10+ Options]
• The Best Portable Power Bank Chargers for Travel
• Travel Product Reviews – Tech & Photography Focus

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Savvy Travel Advice

Best Travel Routers for Internet while Traveling

Last updated: June 1, 2024 - Written by Jessica Norah 229 Comments

These days most travelers want to be able to get online regularly while traveling to check email, get directions, check hotel and restaurant reviews, upload photos, update social media, and stay in touch with those back home. Travel routers can help with this.

It is definitely easier to stay connected as wireless Internet is now widely available in most parts of the world but there are still a number of situations when it can be tricky (or expensive) to connect.

As travel bloggers who regularly have to manage our business on the go, it is often really important for us to be able to get online on a regular basis while traveling and it can be very frustrating when we are in a hotel with weak Wi-Fi, we are being restricted from using multiple devices on one Internet connection, or we would like more security when using an unsecured public hotspot.

A travel router is a compact little device which solves these common Internet issues and offers a number of features to the on-the-go traveler who wants to stay connected. In this post we’re going to go through some of the best travel router options available on the market today based on real-world testing and personal experiences, so you can pick the right option for you.

Table of Contents:

Basic Information on what a Travel Router Does

If you are new to travel routers, also known as portable WIFI routers, this section will help you understand what they do and whether they might be a good fit for your travels or not.

We understand that a lot of the terminology can be somewhat opaque, so Laurence has put his years of experience as a software engineer to use to help explain everything you need to know.

What is a Travel Router?

A travel router is a wireless range extender designed for people who are on the go and need to connect to the Internet when they are away from home. It also performs the functions of a wireless access point.

Just like you would use a home WiFi router to connect your devices to the Internet at home, you may also want to consider having a portable router to use when traveling.

What does a Travel Router do?

Different wireless travel routers have different features, but the main feature is that they increase the range of existing wireless Internet networks. So for example, if you are in a hotel with a weak wireless signal that you are having difficulty connecting to with your laptop or phone, the travel router will amplify the signal so you can connect more easily.

Here is an overview of the main features of a travel router:

• A travel router can extend the range of wireless networks , meaning you can connect to a network somewhere that you might not have been able to connect to with your device because the signal is too weak. The powerful antenna of a travel router can pick up this weak signal and amplify it so your devices can connect to it.
• The travel router also creates a secure wireless network at a public hotspot to better protect your devices . Often when traveling the networks we connect to are unsecured and unencrypted, which means anyone could in theory grab hold of passwords or other data that we send to and from the internet. Travel routers feature a firewall which protects your personal devices from known DoS attacks and port scans from the Internet, giving you a more secure internet connection. However, it is still not recommended that you share sensitive information over a public connection. 
• A travel router allows you to connect multiple devices to a network , even with a single login. The travel router is seen by networks as a single device, so if you are only given one login, you can still use multiple devices. You just login once from the travel router via a web browser (or in some cases a provided smartphone app), and then all your devices can be connected to the network created by the travel router.
• Some travel routers can also be used as a WiFi bridge . These have Ethernet ports so you can connect Ethernet-enabled devices wirelessly to an existing WiFi network. These can include Internet-ready TVs, Blu-ray players, and gaming consoles.
• Other features of travel routers may include the ability to connect to a wired network and turn that into a wireless network, to provide USB charging power to devices such as phones. to work without power, and even to act as an SD Card reader or media hub.
• Some travel routers (including one on our list) can also act as mobile hotspots, but this is not common. See our guide to mobile hotspots for more options in this area.

How much do travel routers cost?

Travel routers range in price from about $20 to $130, although more expensive models with more features are available. We’d recommend that most people look at ones in the $30 to $70 range, as these will work for most users.

If you have a small budget, you can get a decent travel router for around $30. See our recommended travel router list later in the article; they are listed in order by retail price. But beware of ones that are really cheap as they may not work well as advertised.

If you need a travel router that also acts as a mobile hotspot or has other specialized features, then you will pay extra. Some of these can be upwards of $200.

The Best Travel Routers 2024

There are a number of travel routers on the market today, which range in price and features. All the below models would make for a good choice, and the model you choose will depend on your budget and required features.

We currently use a GL.iNet GL-MT1300 which replaces our previous and now discontinued Netgear Trek N300 (PR2000).

We also use the Netgear Nighthawk M1 on some trips when we need access to the Internet as this functions primarily as a mobile hotspot, but it can also be used as a travel router.

Below are our current favorite recommendations:

1. GL.iNET GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango) Mini Travel Router

This is the first of a few GL.iNet routers that we recommend in this post. We like them for a number of reasons. First, they’re based on the OpenWRT software, which is a Linux based operating system that receives regular updates. GL.iNet keep on top of regular firmware updates, so the routers stay secure and get new features. This is unfortunately not as common as you might think, but it is super important to keep your devices safe.

As an example, the GL.iNet routers we list have all been upgraded to include support for WPA3, the latest wireless security standard. Regular updates and support for new features is definitely a benefit when it comes to a travel router, and means it will likely be more future proof.

Whilst this may all sound quite technical, the good news is that you don’t need to really worry about it if you’re not an advanced user. The devices have a simple interface and are easy to setup, and upgrades are just a single click option. If you want to dive into more advanced options you can, but the device works great out of the box, with setup via a simple web interface.

All the GL.iNet routers in our list also all support VPN credentials (see why you need a VPN for travel here ). This means that if you have a VPN account for more secure browsing like NordVPN , all your devices will connect through that when using this device.

The MT300N-V2 model, also known as Mango, is one of the more entry level options in terms of price and features, but if you’re looking for a small device that will do pretty much everything you are likely to need from a travel router, it’s a great option.

You get 300Mbps 2.4Ghz WiFi support, WPA2 and WPA3 support, and two 100 Mbps Ethernet ports for sharing a wired network. It’s also very privacy-focused. As well as the aforementioned VPN support, it also comes with built-in support for Cloudflare’s DNS over TLS. This basically means your internet connection is going to be pretty secure and hard for anyone to snoop on.

Another great feature is that if you have a smartphone with tethering support, or a 3G/4G data dongle, you can plug this smartphone into the USB 2 port on this router, and share the phone’s data over the router’s WiFi network.

The device is powered by USB, so any USB power source can power it, including a power bank or smartphone charger.

The reviews are positive and it’s available at a great price for a travel router that supports 300Mbps and only weighs 1.41oz. It is not as fully featured as some of the other options, in particular it only operates on the 2.4GHz band and the ethernet ports are 100Mbit rather than gigabit. However for most users this likely won’t make a significant difference.

If you are after a lightweight great value travel router with VPN support, this is a solid option.

Price: Check latest price on Amazon here

2. TP-Link TL-WR1502X Router

Released in 2024, the TP-Link TL-WR1502X wireless travel router offers impressive specifications in a small and relatively affordable package.

This weighs just 5.4oz, is powered by USB and supports up to the Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax standard. On the 2.4GHz channel you get up to 300Mbps, whilst the 5Ghz channel offers speeds up to 1200 Mbps.

These network speeds are more than enough for your travel needs as most networks you connect to when traveling are going to be slower than this.

It also has a USB port that you can connect a smartphone too for tethering purposes. So you can share the internet connection from your smartphone across the network your travel router creates. However this USB port can’t be used to connect a hard drive for file sharing.

There’s also a 1000Mbps ethernet port. It doesn’t have a built-in battery, so it does need to be powered from either a USB battery pack or a wall adaptor.

You also get VPN support, so if you have a subscription to a supported VPN service then you can put the details into the router and it will route all traffic through the VPN.

We think this travel router is an excellent option, as you get more future proof WiFi 6 support and gigabit LAN, as well as VPN credential support, in a well-priced package. It doesn’t have all the features of pricier models, but it’s certainly a compelling option.

Note, TP-Link also makes an older travel router, the TL-WR902AC Router . We wouldn’t recommend that one as it’s now quite an old model, but it is certainly a low cost option.

Price: Check the latest price on Amazon here

3. NewQ Filehub AC 750

If you’re after a travel router with a few more features and great functionality, then the NeqQ Filehub AC750 is a good choice. It may also allow you to replace some of the other devices you typically travel with to pack less.

As well as offering a fast 433Mbps network with support for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, this device features a 6700mah battery so it works without needing power, and can also be used to charge your devices.

It also features an SD Card reader and a USB port, so you can transfer files from memory cards to your hard drives or computer. It also has DLNA compatible media serving capabilities, although it is missing built in VPN support.

The latter means you can plug in a hard drive or memory card with your movies on, and stream them directly to your TV, laptop, or mobile phone. There’s a lot of functionality for the price and it weighs under 7 ounces!

Price: Check the latest price on Amazon here .

4. GL.iNet GL-A1300 (Slate Plus) Travel Router

The GL-A1300 from Gl.iNet is the latest version of the travel router we currently use. The GL-A1300 supports 400Mbps on the 2.4Ghz channel, and up to 867Mbps on the 5Ghz channel. It also supports up to 40 devices simultaneously, thanks to a relatively fast processor and lots of RAM.

Like the other GL.iNet routers it also gets regular updates and includes support for features like IPv6 and WPA3, as well as lots of other advanced features that make this perfect for both travel and at home use.

Now, to be honest, most WiFi networks you connect to aren’t going to offer internet speeds which this router can take advantage of. However, if you happen to connect to one that is that fast, this device will let you take full advantage of it! It also means when you’re not travelling you can use it at home as a fast network option to extend an existing network.

You also get three gigabit ethernet ports, a faster USB 3.0 port with media server capabilities, a micro SD slot for storage, and a USB-C port for power. As with the other GL.iNet devices in this list, If you have a smartphone that supports tethering, you can plug it into the USB port and share your smartphone data as well. Or, if you have a USB 3G/4G modem, you can plug that into the USB slot and share that data.

This router is also specifically designed to provide good support for a wide range of VPN services as well as support for IPv6, making this one of the most future proof travel routers we’re aware of on the market. It weighs 6.3oz, so it’s not the smallest option, but it’s still very compact and offers a lot of functionality for the price.

5. GL.iNet GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX)

Launched in December 2022, at the time of its launch this travel router took the speed crown from our previous fastest travel router, the GL.iNet GL-MT1300 (Beryl) . As the name suggests, it is an upgrade over the 1300 Beryl model.

If you want one of the fastest and most future proof travel routers on the market, this is the model to go for. With WiFi 6 support, you can get speeds of up to 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz channel and a blazing fast 2402Mbps on the 5Ghz channel.

It also has an incredibly fast dual-core CPU and double the RAM of the previous Beryl model, meaning it can support up to 70 connected devices simultaneously.

You also get a USB 3 port for tethering support and 2 LAN ports. One of those LAN ports offers gigabit speeds whilst the other is 2.5 gigabits, which is about as fast as you can get, and ideal if you also want to use this at home with a fibre connection.

It otherwise has the same features as the other GL.iNet products, so you get regular updates and support for VPN connectivity if you have a VPN account. If you do have a VPN, this router offers WireGuard speeds of up to 300Mbps, which is incredibly fast compared to other travel routers on the market.

To be honest, this router is probably a bit much for most general travel needs. However, If you have a lot of devices to connect, or just want the fastest option with all the features, and support for USB 3, this is the one to go for. At 7oz, it’s not the lightest option out there but you do get incredible performance.

Price : Check latest price on Amazon here .

6. Asus RT-AX57 Go

Launched in early 2024, the Asus RT-AX57 Go is another high end travel router offering very fast WiFi 6 speeds, up to 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 2402Mbps on the 5Ghz channel. That puts it on par with the GT-3000.

In terms of features, this travel router is packed. You get USB-C charging, a USB 3 port which supports tethering as well as file sharing from a portable drive, and 2 gigabit ethernet ports.

It also supports inputing your VPN credentials so you can secure your whole network, rather than having to run VPN software on each client device seperately.

It comes with a fast CPU and plenty of RAM so you will be able to connect multiple devices with no problem.  It’s not the smallest device out there, weighing in at 7.1oz (200g), but it’s still compact enough for travel.

In our opinion, this travel router makes the most sense for those of you who already have a home network WiFi router made by Asus. That’s because this little travel router has the same AiMesh features as its larger siblings, meaning you can use it when not traveling to extend and improve your home WiFi easily.

7. Netgear Nighthawk Range

If you are looking for a product that is both a mobile hotspot and a travel router, the Netgear Nighthawk range of devices, including the Netgear Nighthawk M1 (MR1100) which we discuss below, are an option to consider.

These are specifically for people who know they are going to be traveling in places without WiFi internet access.

As well as offering travel router capabilities like extending an ethernet or wireless network, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 also lets you put a 4G LTE SIM card into it, and use it as a mobile hotspot when you are away from wireless or ethernet.

It has a 5040mAH built in battery which you can use to charge your phone, media streaming support, can connect up to 20 devices, and supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11ac wireless networks.

Note that this can work on multiple bands around the world, but it doesn’t support all bands around the world. Check to make sure it will work where you need it to work before purchasing. The device should come unlocked and be able to work with any compatible SIM card.

This is definitely a more premium product, but may be a good option for more frequent travelers, those who work remotely, and those who need to get online in more remote locations like RVs or rural settings. For more convenient travel, there are cases you can purchase for it to keep the router and cords, such as this one .

If you are looking for an even faster mobile hotspot that also doubles as a travel router, then you might consider the newer versions which support 5G, including the Netgear Nighthawk M5 (MR5200) and the Nighthawk M6 (MR6150 & MR6500).

These offer 5G compatibility, a touchscreen interface, and can support up to 32 devices. They are significantly more expensive than the M1, but worth considering if you have a larger budget and want a more future-proof router that supports 5G. The M6 series additionally supports WiFi 6.

Note that there is also a M2 version of the router available in certain markets like the United Kingdom and Europe. This one also offers more features like a touchscreen interface but it doesn’t include 5G support.

Price: Check latest price here

You can see and compare most of the travel routers above in one place on Amazon here .

What We Like about Travel Routers

Our primary use for our travel router has been to extend existing Wi-Fi connections. We have often encountered the situation when we are happy to learn that a wireless Internet connection exists in a hotel, bus, cafe, or airport but are then disappointed that the connection is too weak to connect to or is very slow.

Our travel router can then be pulled out to help strengthen the signal so that we can get online using our phone, tablet, and/or laptops. Although not always possible, it is also great in those situations where you can extend a Wi-Fi range from a hotel lobby to your room or from an indoor space to a patio.

The device also partially helps with the security issue of using public Wi-Fi hotspots by providing a firewall and some protection from common Internet threats; however, you should still be cautious about providing sensitive personal information over a public connection.

Travel Routers are also great in other traveling situations beyond just extending an existing wireless connection. There are situations where you might only be given a password to connect one device at a time on a wireless network or may have to pay for additional devices. Obviously, since we are traveling as a couple with two cell phones, two laptops, and two Wi-Fi enabled cameras between us, one Internet connection is not enough and we hate to pay for Internet!

So by whipping out this device, it will allow you to connect multiple devices to a wireless network using a single login. You just login once from the travel router via a web browser or the provided smartphone app, and then all your devices can be connected to the travel routers network, where they should all work simultaneously.

Also, if you are in a hotel or other location that only offers wired Internet access in your room, you can plug the Ethernet cable into the travel router and create a wireless connection that can be used for all of your WiFi-enabled devices.     

Interestingly we have ended up using our travel router as much, if not more, at our apartment verses while traveling.  When we lived in California, we had a good wireless Internet connection in our apartment but it became weaker when trying to use a laptop or phone outside on the deck.

We’ve set up the travel router to extend the range of our home wireless network to be able to blog more efficiently on the deck which was one of my favorite spots to blog . We have also used the USB ports on our router to charge cell phones and other devices and to plug in our USB hard drive for use as a network attached storage device to be shared on our home network.

We also like that most of these travel routers are powered through a micro-USB port, so you can actually power them from a laptop or USB power bank if you don’t have easy access to a power point.

Limitations of Travel Routers

Most travel routers are not a mobile hotspot, so they cannot create an Internet connection if one does not already exist.

So if you are wanting to actually use the Internet in place where there is no or very poor WiFi internet, you’ll probably want to consider something like a mobile hotspot rather than a router or range extender product. However, some travel routers allow you to connect your smartphone via USB and share your mobile data over WiFi, which is a good option. 

The Netgear Nighthawk M1 is a combo router and mobile hotspot, and so this could be an option as well if you need a hotspot.

For those wondering how to get online or how to find an Internet connection while traveling, see our travel guide to getting online when traveling . It also covers things like mobile hotspots, SIM cards, international data plans, VPNs, etc.

Sometimes despite the power of a travel router’s antenna, the signal will still be too weak to connect. In a few situations we have spent too much time trying to get a connection to work when the signal is simply just too weak.  Some routers can also take a few minutes to connect to a network which can leave you wondering if it is just taking awhile or if it isn’t working. 

Be sure to check before you buy to make sure the travel router is compatible with your devices! This should not be an issue for most newer devices but some may not work as well with older devices or those using older operating systems.

Do you Need a Travel Router?

Overall, we have found travel routers to be a benefit to our travels. They are generally easy to use once configured, and are compact and easy to travel with.

Given that many hotels only allow you to join a network using one device at a time (or charge extra for multiple devices), having a travel router makes it possible for us to use all our WiFi enabled devices at once without extra fees.

We currently use ours both at home to extend the range of our own home Internet and while traveling to extend wireless Internet connections, to login multiple devices using one password, and to add a little security while using public WiFi hotspots.

What issues do you have related to using the Internet while traveling? Have you used or would you consider using a travel router? As always, we’d love to hear any advice, tips, or questions you may have!

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Andrew Scott Post author

April 13, 2024 at 6:37 am

I’m so overloaded with reviews and information that I decided I’m going to get something you use or recommend. Best review is one where someone recommends something they actually use. Now, you use the GL.iNet GL-MT1300 but Amazon says it’s no longer available. I think it said “try this instead” but I’m wondering if you’d recommend its apparent replace, whose model I can’t remember, or if you’d switch up/to one of the others you recommend/reviewed. Thanks in advance.

Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

April 14, 2024 at 1:44 am

Yes, it looks like our Beryl router (MT1300) is showing as unavailable, so it looks like it is either out of stock or has been recently discontinued. GL.iNet has been updating and making new routers pretty regularly over the past several years. So based on that one, we would recommned the GL.iNet GL-A1300 (Slate Plus) router . It’s offers pretty much the same feature set as the MT1300, but with improved VPN support. It’s also at roughly the same price point as the one we bought.

If you want support for more recent network technology, then the MT3000 (Beryl AX) would be the option to go for. The Beryl AX (MT3000) is the same model as we have with more advanced technology but at a higher price point. For most travel needs though, the A1300 should work fine.

Either of the above models should work fine for you. We have had good luck with our GL.iNet travel routers and they offer free customer support as well as free returns on Amazon. I would say they are the most reliable brand out on the market right now for regular travel routers. You can, of course, also ask us any questions you may have about routers and we are happy to try to help.

Hope this helps and wishing you happy travels!

Best, Jessica

April 28, 2024 at 7:15 am

Thank you for the full and helpful reply!! Had missed your reply before now.

Regarding “This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links it means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.” can you clarify if it’s any links you include in your webpages (e.g. the links in your blog text and those in comment replies)? I’m ready to purchase a router based on your blog and comment replies and I’d like you to profit from the help and guidance you provide so I want to follow the correct Amazon link. 🙂

Laurence Post author

May 2, 2024 at 4:56 am

You’re very welcome!

Most of our Amazon links included in our post are affiliate links. So if you click on one of those links and purchase the same day, then we get a small commission from that purchase as members of their affiliate program. I definitely appreciate you wanting to help support us!

Hope you enjoy your new travel router!

March 24, 2024 at 1:16 pm

This is a follow-up to my first comment but unable to reply to unapproved comments hence this one.

Just realised that since they are invariably powered via USB, rather than buying one with a built-in battery, you could just use a power bank to power them. The trick would be knowing what size of power bank you’d need for a given travel router.

March 25, 2024 at 4:25 am

Yes, Internet on cruises can be challenging. I think it will depend on the Wifi signal (if it is only available in the cruise cabins) if it will reach to other public areas or not.

The majority of the travel routers we recommend accept a USB input for power so many can be charged/powered by battery. The main thing is to check that the battery bank puts out an output that matches the input of the travel router. Most travel routers accept a 5V 2amp, 3amp or 4amp input, which should work with most battery banks. However, some higher powered routers require a higher voltage, so just check the specifications to be sure.

In terms of size, a 15,000 to 25,000 mah battery bank such as this one by INIU should provide many hours of operation.

Hope that helps and hope you have a wonderful cruise!

Best, Jessica & Laurence

May 5, 2024 at 8:50 am

Ended up purchasing the recommended one by INIU. Thought I’d come back to leave the comment that the GL.iNet Beryl AX router, which I also purchased, required 5V 3A power input. Looking at routers reviewed by Which? magazine, who also recommended the INIU router, it was the only that could provide the necessary power. “All” others were 2A and I didn’t want to risk wasting my time (sending it back) with an underpowered one. Anyway, sitting here quite happily connected to router powered by the powerbank. 😊

May 7, 2024 at 8:58 am

Great to hear your found a solution and that our advice was helpful. Just to clarify, I assume you mean that you got the GL.iNet Beryl AX travel router and a INJU powerbank (not a router from INIU?)? Glad to hear that the recommended INUI powerbank put out the correct amperage for the Gl.Inet travel router.

Yes, we have INIU powerbanks ourselves and have purchased them as gifts for friends so definitely recommend them!

May 7, 2024 at 11:17 am

Yes, gl.inet router and iniu powerbank.

March 24, 2024 at 1:06 pm

We’re looking at one for use on cruises since we learned we can’t hot-spot the WiFi each of phones will have access to. Thought we’d only be able to use it in our room until I read about the one that is battery powered. That would allow us to use it beside the pool or in some other public area. THAT would be extroflexible.

March 25, 2024 at 4:16 am

See our response to both of your comments above to your second comment.

Kelly Post author

December 28, 2023 at 9:24 am

Hi – we sure appreciate the great info!

I was hoping to learn if you thought a travel router would be a good choice to replace our router in Mexico so that we are able to access US streaming through our VPN? It would become our new permanent router there. And/or would we able to use 2 routers with the same VPN, one for other travel and one for our Mexico residence?

December 28, 2023 at 1:54 pm

Happy to try to help with your travel router and VPN questions. So it sounds like a permanent router would be best for your Mexico home and most home routers by GLiNet, Netgear, and many other brands will support a VPN. So for example, this one by GL.iNet should work find as a home router with a VPN service. A home router is going to be larger (so not ideal for travel) but is going to generally perform better overall than a small travel router and have more features, so best to stick to that for home use.

It sounds like you also want a more portable travel router for when you travel internationally to other locations outside of Mexico and the USA? And in that case, most of the midrange and above travel routers support VPN services. You just want to avoid the really cheap ones. Any of the GLiNet travel router options we recommend above such as the Slate or Beryl models should work fine with most VPN services and they are really good travel routers as well. Just see our recommended list above.

And yes, you should be able to use the same VPN service across your home and travel routers. If you stick to the same brand across your routers, it might be a bit easier with configuration but it probably doesn’t make too much difference.

It sounds like you probably already have a VPN service for traveling, but if not, Laurence made a guide and a list of VPNs for traveling here that might be useful.

Hope that helps but just let us know if you have any further questions!

December 28, 2023 at 4:49 pm

Big thanks, Jessica – all VERY helpful information to make my learning curve more bearable.

I will look further into supporting your sites.

Much appreciation,

December 29, 2023 at 6:32 pm

You’re very welcome, and just let us know if you have further questions as you do any further research on routers and VPNs!

Patricia Post author

September 18, 2023 at 9:00 am

Do I need any cabling to use these travel routers with an iPad Pro. Looking at the photos they seem to have Lan connectors and usb sockets , but at the moment at least iPads don’t have either of these. Please advise. I need the router to connect to Wi-Fi when the signal is weak but I would also like it to be as secure as possible thank you. Great reviews

September 18, 2023 at 9:55 pm

Hi Patricia,

No, you don’t need any cables to be able to use any of the recommended travel routers with your iPad Pro, they all can be used with WiFi with your devices. However, most also allow for LAN Ethernet connectivity if you need a wired connection and many also have USB ports. But most people just use their devices over WiFi so you would be fine with any travel router if you are just needing to mainly connect your devices for security, easier connectivity, and extending existing WiFi.

Bob Simmons Post author

July 2, 2023 at 10:05 am

Thanks for the great article. My issue is with WiFi that requires payment after entering password. Also each device requires payment. On a cell phone, after logging in, it pops up a window (browser?) where you enter the credit card info. Do any of these travel routers have that capability, to enter payment information? Reading the user manuals it appears the answer is no. In your travels maybe you have encountered this issue.

July 4, 2023 at 9:34 am

It’s our pleasure, and we will do our best to try to help you.

So the window that pops up to take payment is called a captive portal, and it’s the same thing you often encounter even with free Wifi where it might ask you to enter your name or e-mail address to access the internet. All the travel routers on our list support this, so you can log in and pay if necessary for internet access. A window will pop up on the first device you connect with where you can pay. A pop-up blocker or ad blocker might stop it from happening but in our experience a browser window normally just appears to log in with.

Let us know if you have any more questions!

Laurence & Jessica

Luke Post author

May 25, 2023 at 5:08 am

Just want to say thanks for the sharing informative article, very helpful in choosing the best travel router for our next trip!

June 2, 2023 at 4:39 am

You’re very welcome and glad to hear you found the best travel router for your upcoming travels! And thanks for taking the time to comment.

B.Balakrishnan Post author

May 19, 2023 at 4:04 am

This blog post on the best travel routers for the internet while traveling in 2023 is a lifesaver! Staying connected on the go is crucial, and these router recommendations are just what I needed. Thank you for the helpful insights!

May 21, 2023 at 9:50 am

Hi there, So glad you found our travel router review helpful. Just let us know if you have any questions!

Arnold Machel Post author

April 23, 2023 at 9:08 am

Thanks for the great article. I’ve used a travel router for years and found them super helpful, especially in situations where I want to use a portable Chromecast, but the hotel WiFi security settings won’t it allow to connect directly to the hotel WiFi.

I am now using a laptop that needs a high wattage charger (ideally 65 watts) and would love to finde a travel router with that kind of charging capability, but I can’t seem to find the technical stats on most of them. Any thoughts?

April 24, 2023 at 1:28 am

Glad to hear you have found a travel router useful on your travels. So it sounds like you are looking for a travel router that doubles up as a powerbank that you can use to charge your laptop? Unfortunately, we aren’t aware of any travel routers on the market which offer that level of output, most travel routers which have the facility to charge devices have fairly small batteries and don’t offer high wattage outputs. The ones that offer the ability to charge a device, are more designed to top up a smartphone rather than to power a laptop.

So if you want a portable device to help charge your laptop on the go, I would look at powerbanks like this one that are speciically designed to charge laptops.

Hope that helps! Jessica

April 24, 2023 at 6:34 am

Thanks Jessica. Too bad. Was just hoping to get one device to do both. Good luck with the blog.

April 26, 2023 at 2:19 am

You’re very welcome. Yes, unfortunately I don’t think there is a device that would be able to do both those things well. Feel free to come back and let us know what travel router and charging device you decide to use on your next trip as it may be helpul to furture readers wanting to do the same thing.

Sherry Duvall Post author

March 6, 2023 at 6:46 am

Thanks for this great article! I have just discovered travel routers and am intrigued as to whether this would be something that would work for my family. I would like to know if any of these would work on a cruise ship? We have to pay for each device, or log off and login on them which is such a pain. Cruise ships are huge so will it work when you are far away from your room, and if so, which one would you recommend? Thank you for any help!

March 6, 2023 at 8:44 am

Our pleasure! So to the first part of your question, yes, this should work to allow you to use multiple devices with a single login. The travel router will appear as one device to the cruise ship network, and then you would be able to connect your devices to the travel router’s network without needing to keep logging in and out.

For the second part of the question, travel routers have a variable range but it won’t cover a whole cruise ship unfortunately. It would work in your room and then nearby, but all the walls etc would reduce the range. So it wouldn’t cover the whole ship sadly. But any of the travel routers on the list work in a very similar way in terms of login and would cover your room.

Hope this helps!

March 6, 2023 at 9:41 am

Thank you very much…guess I will save my money!

QBM Post author

March 1, 2023 at 9:21 pm

This article from Independent Travel Cats’ blog is a comparison and review of the top portable WiFi routers for travellers. This post does a good job of researching and comparing the features, benefits, and cons of each router. Personal anecdotes and experiences from the bloggers’ travels are also included in the article. In sum, if you are a frequent traveller in need of a dependable and transportable router, you will find this article to be a gold mine of information.

March 2, 2023 at 4:14 am

Thanks so much for the very kind summary and recommendation of our travel router review article!! If you have any questions about portable routers, feel free to ask!

Daniel W Post author

February 24, 2023 at 8:33 pm

I appreciate what you did with this blog post, especially the way you keep it updated. It is the best online resource for people looking for information on travel routers, thanks!

February 27, 2023 at 7:12 am

Thanks for the kind words and glad you found our travel routers review article useful! If you have any questions about choosing the best travel router for you, just let us know. Happy to try to help!

Karen Arnauld-Bakelaar Post author

January 20, 2023 at 10:21 pm

This i8s so incredibly useful – thank you! Can you help me sort out which might be the best option for me? I mainly work in South Africa, which means we have long spells without power, so anything that runs on battery would be nice to have. I’m in a rural area, so even while working from home I often have trouble getting a wifi signal, especially in bad weather.

I need the signal to be strong enough for Zoom meetings, etc – and often it’s not.

I also need a portable option for when I travel, but I don’t know if I need something to boost a signal or to hotspot – can you help me with this?

All internet here is wifi – I have a home plug-in router with a SIM card in it, and a small portable router as well, but they don’t always do the job!

January 23, 2023 at 7:22 am

It’s our pleasure. So it sounds like you need a mobile hotspot rather than a travel router. A travel router can only extend an existing WiFi signal.

A mobile hotspot works over cellular networks (like a mobile phone). However this can be affected by bad weather, so would basically be the same situation as you are in as your plug-in router likely works the same way. The only difference is that a mobile hotspot has a built-in battery.

So in bad weather situations, there may not be anything more you can do as strong weather can affect the overall signal which could affect the signal for any kind of devices using WiFi or mobile signals. But you might try a hotspot to see if that helps as it works with a different type of signal (cellular signal versus WiFi).

Monte Post author

December 23, 2022 at 3:10 pm

Is there a travel router best suited for offline multiplayer gaming? My wife and I often wind up in areas with no internet. A normal home router constantly nags us with the “you aren’t connected” screen. We know! That’s why we’re playing Minecraft!

December 24, 2022 at 6:48 am

Happy to try to help. So I am guessing the home routers you are referring to are ones that are not your own but ones you stay in while traveling?

So none of the travel router models we recommend are specifically designed for offline gaming. However, we think any of the Gl.iNet routers on the list would work in this scenario, allowing you to create a local WiFi network that your devices can connect to without needing to connect to another WiFi network. However, we have not tried this specific scenario so it is hard to say if one or another router on this list would be better suited to the task. But the more advanced ones offer more features and more future proofing.

Another option to try might be to see if one of your computers (or smartphones if playing on them) allows you to set up a WiFi hotspot. Some Windows 10 and Windows 11 laptops for example have the option to allow you to set up a local WiFi network, which you could then connect your other device too. This may be another possible solutation you could check out.

Anyway, hope that helps and we’d love to know what solution you come up with that solves your issue as it may be useful to future readers.

Virag Post author

November 28, 2022 at 8:22 am

Hi, Thank you for this amazing article. I travel quite a lot and work at the same time and I would need something that I can use to boost the available public wifi (like in hotels or coffee shops). Which one would you recommend in this case?

Thank you in advance, Virag

November 28, 2022 at 9:38 am

Glad you found our travel routers guide useful. So any of the routers listed in our guide would work for that purpose but the GL.iNet routers with the antennas, such as the Slate, Beryl, or the Slate AX models, would have the best performance. We personally use the Beryl model . So I’d recommend any of those three models or a similar travel router to those.

I believe Amazon has been offering discounts on most of the routers for the past week so I would definitely compare prices as you can sometimes get one of the newer models for a good price when they are running discounts.

Hope that helps, and just let us know if you have further questions.

Steve Brown Post author

October 31, 2022 at 11:45 pm

Thank you for sharing the list. I really needed one. I have dead wifi zones with which the travel routers could help.

November 1, 2022 at 9:19 am

It’s our pleasure, glad you found our list useful. So whilst a travel router can work to resolve dead zones, you might prefer to purchase a WiFi extender instead, especially if you plan to use this at home. They tend to be a little bit cheaper because they don’t need as much functionality.

Another option to solve dead zones would be to upgrade to a mesh WiFi network – see our guide to the best home WiFi routers for ideas in that area. The mesh system can help make it so that the WiFi is able to extend throughout your home.

Hope that helps and just let us know if you have any questions!

AJ Post author

October 21, 2022 at 5:01 pm

I purchased two of these items ( #1 and #3) but since I am not tech savvy at all, they were impossible to use. I tried reading and rereading the instructions. I tried the company websites. I tried many youtube videos. I sat between Carls Jr and Walmart, who both have free wifi. I was able to scan each one with a success response. BUT NO WIFI.

This sucks. When someone in an actual store can hook me up and show me how to use it, and provide an actual phone number I can call when I am on the road (which I always am), then I’ll buy one. But reading reviews and going to amazon, and returning said items to amazon, is not my cup of tea.

October 21, 2022 at 5:09 pm

Sorry to hear that you are having issues with using your travel router while traveling. So most travel routers require a little bit of setup.

Have you tried using them inside where you know the WiFi was a good strength and working properly? If you were sitting outside the stores, the public signal might not have been strong enough for instance to really work.

If you have already gotten the manufacturer’s instructions (GL.iNet has some really detailed ones online you can get), you can also try contacting their customer support. If you want in-person support, you could also try going to a local tech store near you (or a chain like Best Buy) that sells travel routers and might be able to troubleshoot with you and help you.

Hope you are able to get it to work!

David Post author

October 1, 2022 at 10:31 pm

For travelers who need access to the internet while traveling, this device sounds very useful. In our everyday life we cannot think of going a day without internet. Thanks for sharing for your valueable information.

October 3, 2022 at 6:55 am

Yes, travel routers can be very useful for those who need to be connected while traveling. If you have any questions about travel routers, just ask!

Chris Post author

September 7, 2022 at 1:54 am

I’m having trouble backup my extender settings, it takes saying that backup is done but can’t find the file??!!

September 7, 2022 at 5:08 am

Many travel routers do allow you to back up their settings, and save the settings to a file. But you will want to check the manual for your specific travel router model to see if it has that functionality and how to do that.

When you backup something as you did, it should give you the option to choose the file location when you do so. So if you check your browser downloads folder it should be there where you set it to save. Or check your manual for the default location.

Hope that helps, Jessica

Jason Post author

August 1, 2022 at 7:32 pm

Hello. Thanks for all the great info. I have been researching travel router setup, but am not sure if it’s possible to do what I’m attempting. I hope you can help me out.

I have an “older” ASUS Dual-Band router that was replaced when we upgraded our home to Eero Mesh router. What I’d like to do is set up the old ASUS router with the same SSID & password as my current home router (the Eero), so that I can take the ASUS on family vacations, connect it to the hotel/condo/house/etc. WiFi, and then all of our devices will automatically connect to it (since they have the same SSID/pswd already saved from our Eero router), without having to sign in all of our devices to the hotel/condo/house/etc. WiFi.

I’ve found some articles that explain how to set up 2 routers with the same SSID & pswd, but they all require connecting the router to a laptop for the initial setup/configuration. So, the real question/problem is: I don’t want to take my laptop on vacation, just to connect my old ASUS router to the vacation home’s WiFi. So, is it possible to set up my old ASUS router at home, and then plug it directly into the vacation hotel/condo/home router via ethernet cable, or will I need to bring my laptop to open a web browser and complete the setup?

August 2, 2022 at 12:10 am

It’s hard to really give specifics without knowing the type of router and equipment. But if the main step that is required is to connect to the Asus router via a web browser over the WiFi connection, then you shouldn’t need a laptop specifically to do that as you can just use the web browser on your smartphone to achieve the same thing. So that part of it should work.

I would definitely test this setup at home first to see if you can extend your existing network with your old Asus router to see if it works as you intend. If you can’t get it to work at home, I would not recommend taking it on vacation. If you can’t get it to work, I would just recommend getting a new travel router that will do what you need it to do for your trip.

Best, Laurence

David Paker Post author

July 4, 2022 at 1:34 pm

Wow! You guys are doing an amazing job. Following your tutorials, I learned so much !!

July 5, 2022 at 2:38 am

So glad you found our articles helpful. If you have any questions about travel routers, just ask!

May 12, 2022 at 10:42 pm

Thanks for the review. I’ll definitely look into it. It really is frustrating if the signal is slow. . I’ll be willing to carry extra weight if it would boost connection,.

May 13, 2022 at 2:07 am

Yes, a travel router may definitely be able to help with that. It does require packing something extra but travel routers are designed for travel and many of the models are pretty small and lightweight these days so won’t add a lot of extra weight! But I would recommend keeping the dimensions and weights of each model in mind when choosing the best travel router for you.

Ryan J Post author

May 11, 2022 at 6:19 am

Thank you for such a thorough and informative writeup! I also read your Best Mobile Hotpots review and was inspired to purchase the Nighthawk M1100, especially considering it’s added ability to be a travel router and boost a current wifi signal. Will be travelling to Europe and staying at many AirBnb’s. Just in case any of them have a weak wifi signal, I’ll be prepared! Now that I have the device, I can’t seem to find instructions on how to use it as a travel router specifically. I’ve searched everywhere online, and there seems to be different wording out there “turn the m1100 into a modem, use it with a modem, etc. Saw one video on how to use the nighthawk with another router (boosting that router’s signal), but it requires connecting an ethernet cable from the router to the Nighthawk. Is that the process of using it as a travel router? Ideally, I’d like to be able to avoid using the ethernet cable, especially if on a public network (i.e. train) that I need to connect to but is weak. Or staying somwhere that I don’t have access to the broadcasting router. Any specific instructions on using the Nighthawk M1100 as a travel router without using an ethernet cable? Thanks in advance.

May 11, 2022 at 9:28 am

So yes, the Nighthawk M1100 is mainly used as a mobile hotspot, but it can also be used as a travel router. So it is definitely possible to set up the MR1100 as a travel router to share a WiFi network, but the manual is not super helpful. We remember this ourselves when we set it up.

The section you are looking for calls it called WiFi data offloading. If you load the MR1100 manual on this page ( https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/MR1100/MR1100_UM_EN.pdf ) – you are looking for the instructions on page 30, titled “offload your mobile internet connection”. There are sections here on setting this up for either Wifi offloading or ethernet offloading. You are looking for the instructions on Wifi offloading.

Hope that helps, but just let us know if you have any further questions. We have used both the Nighthawk M1 and M2 and have set them up to work as a travel router ourselves so happy to help!

May 12, 2022 at 6:34 pm

Amazing. Would have never found that out on my own. Thank you! Will let you know how it goes. My wife and I are being “digital nomads” for the first time having worked remote in the States for the past 20 years. Will be travelling to Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Croatia, Switzerland, Germany, UK, and Ireland over the course of 5 1/2 months. Leaving next week and super excited!

May 13, 2022 at 2:06 am

Glad that helped and you should be able to test it out before you leave. Having the ability to use it both as both a travel router and a mobile hotspot (when you don’t have WiFi) is nice for a long trip like that.

Enjoy your time working as digital nomads in Europe!

Paul Post author

April 30, 2022 at 2:16 pm

Hi, we’re staying at a place that requires us to re-log in every 24 hours. Are there travel routers that will automatically take care of that for you?

May 1, 2022 at 5:33 am

So we aren’t aware of any travel routers that would be able to automatically do this out of the box. With a travel router there is the advantage that you only have to do this once, rather than once for each device you connect to the travel router. So you should be able to just do the necessary daily login once and then all the devices connected to your router should not have to do the log-in.

Depending on how technically minded you are, it is worth pointing out that the GL.iNet routers are based on the OpenWRT software, which allows technically-savvy users to install extra packages if they want and run custom code. However, this is beyond the scope of most users (and not necessary or recommended in most cases). However, if that does describe you though, then that’s an option as you may be able to write code (or find code written by someone else) that would be able to do the auto log-in each day.

Pasu Post author

April 28, 2022 at 9:24 pm

“A travel router allows you to connect multiple devices to a network, even with a single login. The travel router is seen by networks as a single device, so if you are only given one login, you can still use multiple devices. You just login once from the travel router via a web browser (or in some cases a provided smartphone app), and then all your devices can be connected to the network created by the travel router.”.

That’s exactly what I need. Connecting to a WiFi and giving the signal to other devices.

But sorry, which if the mentioned models can do this?

Thank you for your help

April 29, 2022 at 3:51 am

All of the travel routers we mention in our article can do this as this is one of the main features of most travel routers. The one we are personally currently using is the GL.iNet Beryl model above, but as noted, any of the above models can do this.

For instance, we often use it with the WiFi in a hotel to connect all our devices at once without having to log in each one. It can also help get around device limits imposed by some hotels as you just need to connect the travel router.

Travel routers can also make your connection more private and secure, and you can also use most of them in conjunction with most VPNs.

Hope that helps and just let us know if you have any further questions.

April 20, 2022 at 8:43 am

Thanks for this article, but it wasn’t clear to me if any of these support what I want to do: I want to be able to connect a baby monitor to a hotel network (for instance, so a babysitter can keep an eye on the kids from a living room), but my baby cams don’t support connections to captive networks. I’ve gathered that this is where the travel router comes in, allowing me to create my own network after connecting to the hotel’s wifi. What I am hoping to find though, is a travel router that does NOT require an Ethernet connection to make that initial connection to the hotel’s wifi, as not all hotel rooms come with Ethernet ports. It looks like the HooToo TM-02 does this, but I also note that that model is getting a bit long in the tooth at this point. Do any of your recommendations support what I am trying to do? Thanks!

April 20, 2022 at 10:03 am

So none of the travel routers on our list require an ethernet connection to make the first connection, they all work over WiFi (although some can work via ethernet as some have ethernet ports as we note). The way it works is that you turn on the travel router and connect your phone or laptop to the travel router’s WiFi network. Then you use a web browser to configure the travel router to connect to the hotel WiFi network, and if necessary login through the captive portal.

In our experience, the GL.iNet products are the currently the more reliable and most regularly updated options. So those would be our top recommendations, but any of these should work. But newer models are more future proof.

Just a note that setting up cameras or using surveillance devices in hotel rooms is illegal in many countries if any person filmed is unaware of their presence (so if the babysitter or other hotel staff were filmed without their knowledge). So just something to be aware of.

Shannon Post author

February 1, 2022 at 12:02 pm

Hello, I’m currently at a campground with about 4mbps Wi-Fi. I need 200 mbps to do my job and i need help finding the right option. I need something that works with any internet provider and will give me a minimum of 200mbps. Can you help?

February 2, 2022 at 2:39 am

Hi Shannon,

So 200 mbps is very very high and you are unlikely to get that unless you are able to access a 5G mobile network AND a very good cellular signal. The average download speed for 4G is 8-10 mbps. Do you possibly mean 20 mbps that you need for work?

A travel router can help increase a connection but it is not going to make it much faster in most cases. The connection speed at the campsite may be 4mbps at its max and if so, there is nothing you can do to increase that. Especially not 5X or 50X!

If the campsite does have a very fast connection but you are too far from the signal then a travel router can help, but it will likely not make a very big difference, it will generally just make the connection more reliable and secure. But if you travel a lot for work then a travel router like the Beryl one we list above is probably one you would want to have. But you still need to be in places that have a decent connection.

So your best option would be to look into mobile hotspots. These connect over a mobile network and can give you either 4G or 5G speeds depending on the type, and you would need a SIM card to go in them as they are similar to phones in that regard. Of course, you still would need a good cellular network reception for them to work. You can see our guide to mobile hotspots here .

So the best advice is to make sure to do some research before you head to a new place to see what its WiFi connection speed and mobile signal is so that you can see if it a place that you would be able to work from or not. If so, then if you have a travel router and/or mobile hotspot, it should help you work remotely when needed.

Looking to the future, a better option might be something like the Starlink satellite internet which can provide fast internet via low orbit satellites anywhere in the world.

Sage Post author

June 19, 2022 at 11:36 am

Hello! To follow up on this reply (and I am not a techie 🙂 ) I was planning on working from France through a hotel’s WiFi but maybe I should use my cellphone, which is verizon 4G LTE and can be a hotspot? In general, are cellular networks faster than a hotel wifi? I guess it depend on their carrier?

Also, do you recommend a VPN whichever way we access the internet – via cellphone hotspot or hotel wifi?

June 20, 2022 at 4:07 am

So the answer as to whether the hotel WiFi is faster than your cellphone 4G is a difficult one to answer. WiFi is definitely capable of being faster than 4G, but this depends on a number of factors, including the speed of the internet connection the hotel has, how far from the router your device is, and how many other people are using it. 4G also has similar issues, depending on factors like how far away the nearest mast is, if your room is near to a window (walls can weaken a signal), and so on.

In most cases, I’d say that hotel wifi is likely to be faster, but this is definitely not always going to be the case. In general, in your situation, I’d probably say to go with the less expensive option. This is likely to be to get a travel router and use the hotel WiFi (the travel router can then be used on future trips as well). But it depends on the cost of your international data plan.

If you decide to get a travel router (and use hotel WiFi), just be sure to read the instructions and test it out locally before your trip so you know how to set it up and use it before you get to France. Any of the routers we list should work for your situation, our favorites are the ones by GL.iNet.

When it comes to a VPN, VPNs can definitely provide more protection. However, if you are going to use a travel router or cellphone hotspot to connect, it is probably not necessary. Cellphone hotspots or a travel router are going to be more secure because it’s just you connecting to your connection, and mobile networks are a lot harder to hack.

The security concerns over public WiFi networks are not as great as they used to be now that the majority of the web has moved to https. That means the data that is sent from your device to the web and back again is encrypted end to end, so it’s a lot harder for people to snoop on it. In the old days of unencrypted websites and public hotspots, it was fairly easy for someone to hack into someone’s connection, but this is much harder today, especially if you stick to secured websites.

There are still advantages to using a VPN though. Obviously, there is the additional peace of mind, but also some websites block users from specific countries and some countries may block access to certain websites. So a VPN can usually get around that for travelers who need to access websites from their home country. One of the advantages to surfing the web with a VPN in France we’ve found is that it keeps all the websites from constantly redirecting you to the French versions.

Note that some jobs require employees doing remote work to use a VPN or only sign into accounts using some sort of secure connection. This is especially the case if you deal with client data or other sensitive information. So be sure to check your job’s remote work policy regarding security.

We have a post that reviews VPNs for travel here , if you decide you want to use a VPN.

Hope that helps, and feel free to follow-up if you have further questions. Wishing you a great trip to France.

Will Pearce Post author

December 17, 2021 at 8:28 am

I’ve had a HooToo HT-TM05 for about 5 years, and was initially very happy with it. Increasingly, though, I’m encountering web logins on hotel wifi–a situation that I’ve not been able to handle with the HooToo.

I’m aware that some travel routers can be configured with the web login credentials so that they’re able to establish the wifi connection, but it’s not clear from your review which of your recommended devices can do that.

Could you clarify that, please. Also, if you know of some way to get the HooToo to handle this situation, I’d be glad to hear it.

December 17, 2021 at 1:15 pm

Sorry you are having issues with your travel router. Hotel log-ins can be tricky. So the HooToo HT-TM05 should be able to handle the situation you describe (and HooToo noted this in their old FAQ section), as that’s a common scenario for using a travel router. You would normally connect to the Hootoo network with your smartphone or laptop, login to the Hootoo and select the hotel network, and then open up a new browser page from your phone or laptop and try to use the web. This should launch the hotel login page.

Sometimes though this might not work, and it’s possibly because the Hootoo is an older device as that model is now several years old. There are various reasons that it could fail, including a custom DNS setup on your device, use of a VPN, or trying to navigate to some https pages. It’s hard to troubleshoot without seeing the error message you are getting. How far into the process are you getting? Are you getting any error messages?

If this occurs in more than one hotel, and you can’t get it working, I’d recommend contacting HooToo for support. They list the following info on their website: Tel: 1-888-456-8468 (Monday-Friday: 9:00 – 17:00 PST) and email [email protected]

It looks like the company has not updated information on HooToo HT-TMO5 for a couple of years now and it may be that the company is no longer supporting the device. We also just saw that it has been removed from Amazon.

If nothing is working, it is probably that you just need to upgrade the device. I’d recommend upgrading to one of the newer GL.inet, TP-Link, or Netgear travel router models. We’ve used both the GL.inet Beryl and Netgear M1 in hotels recently without incident.

Hope that helps and just let us know if you have any further questions!

Pipps Post author

November 18, 2021 at 2:45 am

Thanks for the great guide and clear recommendations👍

November 18, 2021 at 2:13 pm

Thanks Pipps for taking the time to leave a comment. Glad our travel router guide was helpful and just let us know if you have any questions!

November 19, 2021 at 2:18 am

My pleasure, you definitely got the Amazon referral 👍

Nikki Mag Post author

October 14, 2021 at 10:12 pm

Thank you for this wealth of information, greatly appreciate it. I am not tech savvy whatsoever and was hoping you had some information to share.

My employer requires an ethernet connection from a modem/router to the company laptop. We are unable to directly connect to wifi. As of today, is there a recommended travel router that I can connect via ethernet cable? I apologize if youve answered this already and I missed it.

October 15, 2021 at 6:35 am

No problem, and happy to try to help!

All the GL inet travel routers we recommend come with at least two ethernet ports. For instance, the Slate router has three Ethernet ports and a lot of other features. So you can connect to the router via an ethernet cable, and then configure the router to connect to either a WiFi network, or to another network with the other ethernet port on the router. This is fairly plug and play so shouldn’t be too tricky, and the instructions that come with the devices are quite easy to follow as well.

You may also want to talk to your company’s IT department as well about the issue since it sounds like they require a certain level of security to be in place for use. If you, for instance, need to use a VPN to connect to your work data, the Slate router is compatible with over 30+ VPNs but may not be compatible with all VPNs.

Hope that helps, and just let us know if you have any other questions!

jack Post author

October 9, 2021 at 7:48 pm

thanks for the awesome article I am looking for a mobile hotspot and a travel router, I need it very much. I found your article. Very beautiful and will come in handy for me.

October 10, 2021 at 4:53 am

Glad it was helpful and hope you found a travel router that works for you. If you are looking for a device that can be both a travel router or wireless hotspot, then the Netgear Nighthawk router is probably your best bet. If you are looking for two separate devices, then you can also check out this article about choosing a mobile hotspot .

But do let us know if you have any questions about travel routers or mobile hotspots.

Joao Post author

October 6, 2021 at 7:41 am

Thank you for this great article.

I’m looking for a travel router, just with the intention of better capturing public networks.

Which of these routers do you think provides a better increase in signal strength on public wireless networks?

October 7, 2021 at 1:31 am

So we’d recommend either the Gl.iNet AR750S ( https://amzn.to/2Quyhsb ) or the GL.iNet MT1300 would be our suggestions. These both have little external aerials which mean they are able to get improved range compared to other options in the round up.

October 7, 2021 at 3:10 am

Hi Jessica,

Thank you for the reply.

Do you think the gain in signal strength is worth it for the price difference for the GL.iNet GL-AR300M16 for example?

October 8, 2021 at 1:44 pm

The more powerful travel routers should be able to provide a stronger signal, but I think you would also be paying more for extra features (not just signal strength specs) as well on the more expensive routers. Whether it would improve the signal strength over some of the lower priced GL.iNet routers is probably going to depend on the particular situation and place in which you use it. You might consider buying the lower priced and test it out to see if it works as you need it to. If not, you could return it and purchase the more expensive router with the better signal strength.

For more technical questions about signal strength and the differences between models, you might want to reach out to the GL.iNet customer service and let them know how you specifically plan to use it and they can probably give you a more technical answer since we have not tested the two routers at the same time.

Alice Post author

August 9, 2021 at 7:50 am

Great information here on travel routers. Which of the Glinet routers would you recommend for a first time user? Interested in using it for working on laptop at coffee shops and for travel (domestic and international). Not super tech savvy so something that is pretty easy to use and will last.

August 9, 2021 at 8:35 am

Thanks very much! I appreciate we go into a bit of detail with the GL.iNet routers and their advanced features, but the good news is that you don’t need to be technical to use them, they work well out of the box with a simple web interface to set them up. Any of the ones listed should actually meet your needs.

So the MT300N-v2 (Mango) is a good option if size and budget are the key constraints. It is small, lightweight, and the least expensive. Its small size and weight make it perfect for travel.

For a more future-proof solution, then the two higher-priced GL.iNet models (Slate and Beryl) offer a faster WiFi network with support for the 5Ghz band, which tends to be less congested and therefore faster in public situations. The Beryl model (which we have), is the most powerful with the fastest processor inside, but it’s honestly not going to make a huge difference between that and the AR750 (Slate) unless you have a need for the USB 3 port or want to connect to very fast networks (which most public wifi networks in our experience are not!).

Hope that helps, and let us know if you have any further questions!

August 4, 2021 at 1:25 pm

First off, I say thank you for this information. I will say that I used to use the Netgear Trek N300 before I left it in a hotel (doh). So when I saw that you used to use it as well and saw the information on Juplink EC3-750, I was sold.

I haven’t been able to connect to hotels with it since most hotels have a login screen. I can’t seem to get the setup right on the Juplink to actually be able to pull up the screen to login. How do you set yours up to use in hotels so I can get my setup right. Thank you in advance.

August 5, 2021 at 4:59 am

Yes, the Netgear Treks were great and I wish they would have continued to make and update those. The Netgear Nighthawk M1 is good, but expensive if you are not using it for a mobile hotspot as well as a router.

So the interface for the Juplink can be a bit confusing as it has the different modes and functions. You should be able to get it set up as follows.

First, put the router in repeater mode, then plug it in (if you’ve set it up previously, hold down the reset button on the side for five seconds to start over).

Once the router is on, you should be able to connect your device to the Juplink WiFi network, which doesn’t have a password. You will then be able to login to the router via the url router.juplink.com, the default username and password is admin for both.

From the admin page, press the “repeater wizard” option. This should bring up a list of all the WiFi hotspots, and you would choose the hotel network option. Here you can also specify the network name, this will be your network name. If there is a security password on the network, the network you create will start off with the same password.

The router will restart, and when it comes back it should present you with the new wireless network to connect to. If you connect to this and then try to use the internet, you should be presented with the network login screen.

For added security, I’d recommend changing the password of the created network to a password of your own choosing. You can do this by going to router.juplink.com, logging in again with the username and password, and then going to the WiFi settings. Here you can change the name and password on the WiFi settings.

Hopefully that will work for you, but if not feel free to let us know!

August 6, 2021 at 3:15 pm

It doesn’t work. The hotel sign in page never comes up to sign in.

August 7, 2021 at 9:01 am

I am sorry to hear that isn’t working. I would reach out to Juplink’s customer service to see if they can help as that is the process that we have followed in the past.

If you can’t get it to work after reaching out to Juplink, I’d recommend returning it for one of the recommended GL.iNet or TP-Link travel routers. We have found that GL.inet keeps their software the most updated in recent years so can be the best for the kind of issues you are having.

Let us know what happens as it may be that it doesn’t work well (or is difficult to configure) at certain hotels and we will consider removing it from our list if that is the case.

August 9, 2021 at 6:37 am

We have done more testing with our Juplink and we were able to replicate the issue you are having with a network sign-in page. So for now, we are removing this router from our list and have reached out to Juplink’s customer service to see if Juplink has a solution to fix this issue. It is still working fine as an extender/router but it seems to have issues with log-in screens. Laurence is not sure if this is a hardware or software issue.

In the meantime, we would recommend returning the Juplink and getting a GL.iNET travel router or similar – we have not had the log-in page issues with the GL.iNet router (we have the Beryl one specifically) and are showing it able to load log-in pages when the Juplink one cannot when using them both at the same time. Sorry for the inconvenience as we have had the Juplink for over a year but our travels have been pretty limited due to Covid so we were not able to test it as much as we normally would and it worked fine in our initial uses.

Tiara Post author

May 3, 2021 at 6:42 am

Great, informative article! And it’s awesome that you guys are still making responses after two years.

I’m looking for a travel router that can help me for my remote contact center work. I’m interested in traveling to national parks or otherwise and am looking for routers to secure a good connection on the days I have to work. I know hotels and whatnot near parks can still be somewhat slow, and this is also for general travel. What would you recommend?

May 3, 2021 at 10:33 am

Yes, we aim to try to reply to all comments and email questions related to travel and photography – and have been trying to do so for 10 years now 😉

So a travel router can certainly help improve a connection by making it more consistent and secure. However, it can’t turn a really slow connection into a fast one. Any of the travel routers on this list can help with extending Wifi, making your connection more secure, and allowing you to use it with more devices more easily. So it just depends on if there are any features you’d need (e.g., Ethernet ports) and buying one that works with faster speeds will make it more future-proof.

However, the reality is that in and around many national parks and state parks, the WiFi speed is not great. This is especially the case in the Western and rural parts of the USA.

Now if you have a poor Wifi connection but good mobile phone signal strength, then a mobile hotspot will work. This will do the same things as the travel router but it will also help you extend the mobile signal to connect your other devices (e.g., laptop, tablet, etc.) that you need to use. So you might check out the Netgear Nighthawk M1 device we recommend above in the article which can act as both a travel router and a mobile hotspot – we have this one and have used it on places like boats and rural areas where we have phone signal but there was no Wifi access.

For those who work in remote areas with both poor Wifi access and poor mobile phone signals, they often need to rely on satellite access but these devices are not currently travel-friendly or budget-friendly. A mobile hotspot can only help where there is some mobile signal.

So I would investigate the places you are thinking of spending time and need a faster connection and see what the Wifi access and mobile signals (for your specific carrier) are in those areas. That can help you assess what type of device might be best for you and also if you should plan to work in certain places or just visit them when you don’t need to work.

Hope that helps, and let us know if you have any further questions! Jessica

Patti Hackney Post author

April 14, 2021 at 9:40 am

We are looking for a travel router that we can plug into a strong antenna that we wired outside our boat. Our paid for wifi is pretty far away, but the antenna works great to connect; however only on one device (our laptop) if the antenna is plugged into it. Do you know of any travel routers that have the ability to connect an external antenna to pick up the wifi signal? Thank you for any information you can give us. Patti

April 15, 2021 at 7:18 am

The Netgear M1 / M2 can support an external antenna but it’s only for improving a 4G LTE signal rather than a WiFi signal. So I don’t think that would work for you given your situation.

There are some travel routers that support external antennas. Some versions of the GL.iNET GL-AR300M , for example, have an external antenna which you can connect your own antenna to them. But you would want to check if it is the same connector type as your existing antenna so that they are compatible.

But a travel router may not be the best fit for you, given your situation, so you may want to ask a networking/router specialist at a Best Buy or similar to ask about options that would work with your boat Wifi signal/external antenna situation. An access point, standard router, or bridge may be a better option.

YL Hu Post author

March 30, 2021 at 10:14 am

Very practical and interesting topic. I am currently looking at a mobile router, Ryoko. Would hope to hear from anyone who has been using it. Thanks. YL

March 30, 2021 at 10:24 am

This more of a hotspot than an actual travel router which is what my post is about. The is a 4g router and requires a SIM card to use.

I have not heard of or used the Muama-Ryoko mobile routers before. They only have a 3.1/5.0 rating on TrustPilot and a lot of mixed and bad recent customer reviews. So I would really read the reviews there before making a decision.

If you are just looking for a travel router (not a mobile hotspot), I would consider one of the other ones we list above as they are actual travel routers. If you need something that also functions as a mobile hotspot, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 functions as a router and extender but you can also add a SIM card and use it as a mobile hotspot as well.

Jum Post author

April 8, 2021 at 5:37 am

It’s very difficult to find genuine reviews. Apart from Trust Pilot, the rest of the review websites on Google are extremely suspicious. They all 100% recommend and offer a link direct to Muama-Ryoko. The company seems to have a complete stranglehold on any info. I would avoid.

Melissa Post author

January 27, 2021 at 9:16 pm

I am not the most tech savvy person but I am looking for a way to use Chromecast in hotels when I travel overseas. The Wifi is usually horrible in these hotels so I’m not sure that Chromecast would work without some help. Can you recommend something easy to use that could help in this situation? Also, do I need a sim card or anything for these mobile routers or am I thinking of a hotspot?

Thanks so much!

January 30, 2021 at 5:13 am

Hi Melissa,

A travel router could definitely help in this situation, and it would also make setting it up each time easier. As you know the Chromecast needs a WiFi network to connect to, and if you use a travel router then you can setup the Chromecast to connect to the WiFi network that the travel router creates. This means you won’t need to reconfigure the Chromecast every time.

In addition, the travel router should be able to deal with spotty hotel wifi more reliably than the Chromecast. Being stuck behind the TV means it will get worse reception in general, whereas you can place the travel router in a better location.

You don’t need a sim card for these travel routers as they just extend an existing network – you are indeed thinking of a mobile hotspot. That is also an option, but for streaming it would work out quite expensive as streaming uses a lot of data. So a travel router that improves the WiFi reception is your best option. Any of the options we list should work well for your purposes.

Sparkles Post author

June 2, 2021 at 8:43 pm

The problem with chromecast on hotel wifi is the login access page since it doesn’t have a built in browser without a travel router logging in requires spoofing the mac address of a different device to match the mac address of the chromecast.

Pondorosa Post author

January 21, 2021 at 1:52 pm

Great insight on travel routers, VPN’s and other stuff I did not know of. Thank you!!!

January 23, 2021 at 8:34 am

You’re very welcome Pondorosa – if you have any further questions about travel routers just let us know!!

Thomas Bash Post author

December 21, 2020 at 3:46 am

Thanks for sharing this informative blog, I think the Tp-Link travel routers are best.

December 22, 2020 at 11:02 am

You’re very welcome, and thanks for taking the time to share your views on travel routers with us!

Julie Post author

December 3, 2020 at 11:21 am

Wow! This was exactly the article I needed. Thank you. I’m trying to convince my employer to let me take my remote, on-line job on the permanent road (RV). Their concern is that I occasionally need to take credit card information for orders. I also do video calls with customers, so speed is important. I go through a VPN at home with a wired, ethernet connection. I could easily create a mobile hotspot where needed with my phone, so is the GL-iNetGL-AR750S all I really need? Or is it necessary to go up to the NetGear Nighthawk?

December 4, 2020 at 4:56 am

Glad you found our article on travel routers helpful.

So if you are confident of phone reception, usually you would set up the VPN connection on your phone and then set it up as a mobile hotspot. The only reason you’d need a travel router in this case is to extend the range of the WiFi network that your phone creates. So a regular travel router (like the GL.iNet one ) is probably good to have for this purpose and it can also provide extra strength and extra security when you do use public WiFi networks. Since you need VPN, that is probably a good one for you.

Something like the NetGear Nighthawk (which is a router + mobile hotspot) is only necessary if you’re going to be connecting multiple devices at higher speeds than your phone can handle since you already are able to create a mobile hotspot with VPN on your phone. So you can test that out in advance to see if you would need a mobile hotspot or not, or if your phone connection is enough.

However, my main concern would be around cell reception, which will obviously depend on where you plan to be traveling. Remote and rural parts of the USA might not always have great cell reception and if you are an avid RV traveler, you’ll know there are some big dead zones for networks here and there. The only solution to this is to investigate satellite options – for example the Starlink system is coming online in the USA at the moment, which offers fast speeds at a reasonable price (compared the other offerings at least!). So it may take your subscribing to something like this to convince your boss if they are worried about you always being able to be online, or making sure you only travel to places with good phone signals. A mobile hotspot won’t work in places where there is no signal of some kind.

Anyway, hope that helps and just let us know if you have further questions!

Matt Post author

October 29, 2020 at 5:54 pm

Hi Jessica, your article was great. It was very helpful and much needed information. Your article was clear, consistent, and well-researched. Thanks.

October 30, 2020 at 5:01 am

Hi Matt, Glad you found it helpful. We have tried to keep it updated over the years as technology and manufacturers have changed for travel routers! Just let us know if you have any questions. Best, Jessica

Dwayne Post author

July 25, 2020 at 3:01 pm

I’m at a hotel and would like a secure connection the room does not have a ethernet port, I connect to the internet on a log in screen and most of the times the screen doesn’t come up and connects itself. I have theTP-LINK TL-WR902AC AC750 WI-FI TRAVEL ROUTER set at hotspot mode and plugged to my laptop. The power and wireless lights are lit, but the internet light blinks, the hardware is version 3. I have tried the range extender mode and could connect to internet at all. Is there something I’m not doing in the router setup page. I have not had any answers yet with the tplink support staff. This is a really good site. Thanks

July 26, 2020 at 4:05 am

Sorry to hear you are having issues logging into your router at the hotel.

So could you clarify, you are in a hotel and you are connecting to the TP-Link WiFi network, but the internet is not working? Normally what should happen is the first time you want to connect to a new network you have to visit http://tplinkwifi.net , login with the username and password (the default is admin for both), and then follow the quick setup instructions which will allow you to choose a network. Then, if you try to browser to another website, the hotel login page (if there is one) should come up.

The router should be in hotspot mode as you say, but it doesn’t need to be plugged into your laptop. Normally the internet light only blinks in access point or router mode so you might want to check the mode switch is in “share hotspot” mode.

Let us know if you were able to get it fixed or if not, happy to try to help further. But hopefully you got through to the Tp-Link staff as well.

July 27, 2020 at 12:43 pm

Hello Jessica, I got connected to internet with my router on saturday, I just kept playing around with the tplink setup page and got it work. I am also using the hotspot shield free vpn, I did a speed test my upload and download mbps is under 1 at 0.56mbps. and sometimes the download gets to 1.07 Is there something I can do to get the speed faster? Thanks

July 28, 2020 at 4:31 am

Glad you got connected. So if the Internet speed is just slow where you are, there is nothing really you can do to make it faster, unfortunately. But the travel router should not slow it down. Travel routers can help strengthen a signal but they don’t really affect speed.

However, VPNs can slow down speeds (particularly free services) so you might want to test the speed without the VPN to see if that is the case. If you do find it is the VPN, you might want to consider trying a different VPN or connecting without it. You can see our list of the recommended VPNs for travelers .

If you find that the Wifi speed where you are is just too slow to perform what you need, then your only other real choice might be to consider a mobile hotspot as these create an Internet connection. However, these are more expensive and rely on a mobile network, so best to see if you can get things to work with the travel router if you can since there is an existing connection where you are.

Evan Bell Post author

May 8, 2020 at 4:08 pm

I had a Netgear travel router but it recently broke and need a new one to connect to the internet when away. This is a great resource on travel routers, I appreciate!

May 8, 2020 at 4:28 pm

Great to hear you found our travel router review article helpful. We’ve had good experience with Netgear devices, it is too bad they never made an update to the Netgear Trek, but there are several good options out there by TP-Link, GL.iNet, and RavPower. Just let us know if you have any questions.

Tim Post author

April 27, 2020 at 7:45 am

Great info about the internet during travelling and using travel routers. Is there other things I should do to keep info and passwords secure while travelling and avoid hacking attacks? Thanks.

April 27, 2020 at 9:15 am

Yes, there are lots of other things you can do to further protect your data:

-Make sure all your devices (phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) are secure and protected with passwords and identify verification -Make sure your operating systems on your devices are updated with most recent updates and patches – you should also have firewall/virus protection -Use a VPN when traveling. For more info you can see our guide to choosing a VPN . You’ll want to make sure your travel router is compatible with a VPN -Avoid accessing sensitive accounts or data while on public Wifi – you should try to access important accounts (e.g., banking) as little as possible when traveling to avoid identify theft and people getting your password details. -Make sure you have backup copies of important data and info stored at home before your trip -Never give out your account passwords to anyone while traveling -Avoid providing any information on unsecured websites -Be cautious about downloading files, especially if you are not absolutely sure of their source

Hope that helps, and do let us know if you have any questions about choosing a travel router!

Sam Johnson Post author

March 24, 2020 at 6:16 am

I have Linksys WTR54GS Wireless-G Travel Router . This comes with a built-in access point and an Ethernet port used to connect to a wired network or to other computers. For a secured connection, this device has an encryption capability. This has its own power supply and an antenna. Included in the package is a case for easy safekeeping.

March 24, 2020 at 6:29 am

Thanks for sharing which travel router you use and glad that one has worked well for you. That is an older model which is why its not included on our list as it doesn’t support the latest WiFi standards, but should still work for most people!

Jeff Post author

February 12, 2020 at 6:15 pm

I have a tp-link nano travel router today. But the problem with it is that it does not play well with the captive portal system that hotels use. Every time I try to set up the router in a new hotel it takes multiple efforts to get the travel router to recognize the hotels wireless network. And then even after it does, it quite often will not show me the captive portal login page. It is very frustrating. What is your experience with these travel routers you recommend and their ability to play well with hotels captive portal?

February 13, 2020 at 6:50 am

Usually when we have this problem the issue is because the wifi network signal is so weak that even the travel router struggles to connect. However, normally we don’t have any problems with the captive portal – the routers are designed to be able to handle them, and should pass it through to your device so you can login. When you say it won’t show you the captive portal screen, do you mean after you have connected your travel router to the network, and connected your device to the travel router, that it’s just not loading the screen? Does it load anything at all?

If you are consistently having these problems, you might want to reach out to TP-Link for support as it’s possible the router has a fault, or it might need a firmware update.

Hope that helps! Laurence

February 13, 2020 at 10:12 am

>”When you say it won’t show you the captive portal screen, do you mean after you have connected your travel router to the network, and connected your device to the travel router, that it’s just not loading the screen?”

Correct. Most times (not always) the captive portal screen will never display. I repeat the setup process over and over to have the router scan for the hotel’s wifi signal and about half the time after several tries the captive portal login screen might appear.

>”Does it load anything at all?”

When it doesn’t show a screen, usually what happens is a message pops up stating something like “The network you are using may require you to visit it’s login page.” And that’s it. No login page appears.

I am done with this travel router. I’m tossing it. But I don’t want to purchase a different travel router only to have this same problem persist.

February 13, 2020 at 12:03 pm

It sounds like you know what you are doing and have tried a lot of things. Although it can take a little time to get to the captive login screen, you should be able to get there if the signal is strong enough and it is set up, so it is likely a hardware or firmware issue, so our only recommendation would be to ask TP-LInk about the issue and see if they have specific guidance on your model. We have not encountered this issue with the routers we have used.

Tlynnk Post author

July 15, 2020 at 11:06 am

I absolutely HATE my TP Link nano. Thank goodness it was cheap. It’s going straight to the trash. After two years of problems, I give up.

James Post author

January 8, 2020 at 2:45 am

I am using a travel router from one of the top-notch brands but its speed is far below the committed numbers. Which other routers do you suggest which can deliver at par speeds that we get at our homes/ offices? Thanks in advance.

January 8, 2020 at 10:13 am

So we usually find when we travel that the speed of the internet is often slower than at work or home (depending on your home connection speed). When I talk about the speed of the internet, I mean the connection speed that the hotel or guesthouse network offers. If there connection is slow, then the travel router won’t be able to improve upon that.

Most travel routers offer speeds in the region of 300Mbps, which is more than fast enough for streaming even very high definition content, and faster than most networks. So I think that no travel router will really improve that speed so any of them will pretty much give you the same speed. The only option would be to invest in a mobile hotspot, which bypasses the wifi entirely and connects over a 4G network which could deliver faster speeds. If these are available in the country you are traveling in, they can be faster than WiFi in some cases.

If you decide you’d prefer a mobile hotspot, you can read about them more in this article and it includes some of our suggestions if you decide you want to rent or buy a hotspot.

Tony Post author

January 16, 2020 at 11:18 am

My entire career has been designing digital networks all over the world, so I think I can help explain why what you’re asking for is currently impossible. First, don’t confuse network “speed” with network bandwidth. Public WiFi utilizes Broadband technology, which can be best visualized by comparing it to a regular pipe. No available technology can increase the size of a pipe in order to increase the rate of flow. Rather, a bigger pipe must be installed!

Likewise, no current technology can take a Public WiFi with a bandwidth (pipe) of 150mpbs and increase the bandwidth to 300mbps. What the best Travel Routers do is boost and extend a weak network signal into a much stronger network signal, which in turn decreases network latency, which improves the overall quality AND quantity of the flow of digital information to your laptop or tablet.

Steve Post author

January 5, 2020 at 11:37 pm

Everyone should choose a strong router at an affordable price especially while traveling. Many on this list of routers that will be a great choice. I use a TP-link router that is quite good while traveling.

January 6, 2020 at 1:16 pm

Hi Steve, Yes, the TP-Link ones are a great choice and well-priced. They also seem to keep updating the technology in them every couple of years which is good! Best, Jessica

O.G. Post author

September 23, 2019 at 2:33 pm

This was a great informative post about usig the internet during travelling and using travel routers. If you want to use the internet while travelling then you must buy a wireless mobile router because its signal range are large with the secure password nd also send a message to the user if someone try to hack a password, otherwise you feel trouble during travelling! I use them mostly because of the added security as I don’t feel safe using the internet in public places for private things and banking while traveling without having extra security. Thanks.

September 26, 2019 at 12:41 pm

Yes, travel routers are probably primarily used to increase signal strength, but yes, the extra level of security is definitely an additional featured added by travel routers. They can help make public WiFi networks a bit more secure.

Glad our article was helpful to you! Jessica

Brad Post author

September 16, 2019 at 2:34 am

Thanks for bringing our eye on this great device as we all know many hotels out their provides free internet service but the speed is ridiculously slow, show it could be of great use ( but the pricing can be a little lower in my opinion)

September 16, 2019 at 9:35 am

Hi Brad, Yes, a travel router can definitely help if you have a slow (or unsecured) connection at a hotel. If you are looking for the most budget-friendly option, the RAVPower Filehub Tripmate Nano is one to take a look at. Best, Jessica

Kimi Post author

September 11, 2019 at 1:34 am

Routers are great, as you can connect to the internet whenever you want. I mostly use it while I’m out on the beach, to listen to music or to watch some cool videos. But I’m still concerned about the safety and certain restrictions in certain countries, so I also use Nord VPN, so that my holiday would as comfortable as it can be. So, your own router and NordVPN are my best travel buds!

September 11, 2019 at 10:10 am

Hi Kimi, Yes, a VPN can be great, especially if you are traveling in lots of places with unsecure Internet (although a travel router can help secure your connection) and countries with lots of online restrictions. A VPN doesn’t work so great with some travel routers, but it sounds like you have found a good system for you! Best, Jessica

Sam Post author

August 27, 2019 at 9:03 pm

thanks @travelcats for the article. However, I am still a bit on the fence with these devices because I don’t find many hotels that use the Ethernet cable anymore in each room, so if I want to set up my own “room network”, I would need a device that acts as a Hotspot and the models mentioned in the article are Not that. Is this correct? If so, can you recommend some or have you already covered that subject in another article that you can post a link to?

August 28, 2019 at 7:25 am

Yes, so travel router devices can either extend an ethernet network into a WiFi network, or extend a weak WiFi signal into something your devices can connect to. Of course this only works if there is a wifi connection to extend.

If you want to connect when there is no WiFi connection, you would need a mobile hotspot, you can see some options here . Or you can get a device like this Netgear Nighthawk device that can function as both a travel router and mobile hotspot.

For more about mobile hotspots and getting online when traveling, this article may be useful: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/how-to-get-online-when-travelling-away/

Hope that helps, and let us know if you have further questions!

Bob J Post author

July 8, 2019 at 8:17 pm

Can any of these routers act as a wireless Ethernet bridge? I want to connect net gear router to our resort WiFi and was wondering if a travel router would be reasonably priced way to do that

July 11, 2019 at 2:30 pm

That is a good question. Some of these routers may be able to do that but that is not really what they were designed to do. I would check the specs of the devices and contact the specific manufacturer of the one(s) you are interested in and ask them specifically if they can do this and how you would do this. If not, I would look for a device designed more to do this, I am sure Netgear could recommend one. Best, Jessica

Tex Post author

July 4, 2019 at 12:01 pm

It sounds like you can use either an app or a browser on a laptop to configure the Trek in case it needs a password to connect to the hotel’s wifi, am I understanding that correctly? Because if that is the case, then $35 for a way to boost the WiFi signal is a bargain. So many hotels advertise free WiFi but deliver very slow connections

July 6, 2019 at 2:30 pm

Hi Tex, Yes, that is correct, you can usually use them to get around hotel minimum device issues as well as to boost exisiting WiFi signals. They also add a bit more security. Netgear is not making the Trek any longer so they are hard to find, but you might be able to find one on Amazon or ebay or secondhand. But other routers work in a similar way and they pretty much all do the same thing so you can also check out the other devices. Best, Jessica

Jimmy Chang Post author

July 1, 2019 at 5:42 am

Ravpower Filehub Plus slow down internet speed more than 50% makes it unusable in most case. Although the device’s small size and has it’s own battery is a huge plus. I bought one, really like it, but I return the product due to the internet performance disappointment.

July 1, 2019 at 5:58 pm

Hi Jimmy, Yes there are pros and cons to all of the travel routers. Sorry to hear the Ravpower Filehub Plus was not a good fit for you, but there are several other options out there that you can try. Best, Jessica

Adam Post author

June 9, 2019 at 2:32 am

Alright so this list needs updated badly. No WiFi AC options = bad. Which there are enough of to warrant an update.

June 9, 2019 at 2:08 pm

Thanks for your input! We do keep this list as up to date as we can, and there are not that many travel routers on the market that support this speed.

Some of our recommendations support the 300Mbps speed, and AC is only 433Mps, so the difference is not that great. In addition, in our experience most networks when we travel don’t offer speeds anywhere near close to maxing out even a 150mbps travel router. So there are very few places where you would encounter public Wifi AC at this time, therefore, there is not much of a compelling reason for most people to need this feature.

However, we’ll certainly review the post and update this list to ensure the best options are still represented ????

Beri Post author

May 28, 2019 at 3:46 am

I found a list of some more routers suitable for a VPN setup, have you had any experience with setting it up? I’m subscribed to this VPN but I’m a little uneasy about the technical part of configuring a router.

May 28, 2019 at 11:50 am

Hi Beri, Yes, as you know, not all routers will work with a VPN. But if you have a travel router that does, you will just need to follow the directions of that router to use it. It should work the same as without a VPN unless otherwise indicated. Best, Jessica

Tobias Claren Post author

May 21, 2019 at 4:09 am

Is it possible to use such Wireless Travel Router with a Wifi with voucher code (entry in web browser)?

May 21, 2019 at 5:23 am

Hi Tobias, Yes, it is. Once you have connected the travel router to the network, you should be able to access the voucher page from your device as you normally would. Best, Laurence

John Stafford Post author

May 16, 2019 at 6:43 am

Could you advise how these travel routers deal with the invariable web page sign in that most Hotels require you to fill in before allowing you on their WiFi network?

May 16, 2019 at 7:01 am

Hello John,

All the routers we recommend support the sign-in page that some networks require – they usually just forward it to the device you first access the network from. So say you are using a smartphone, you first connect the travel router to the hotel network using the configuration tool on your smartphone, and then when you try to access the internet, you will be redirected to the web page to sign in.

The advantage of using a travel router is that you should only need to sign in once, then any other devices you connect to your travel router will not need to sign in again. It also carries the advantage that if the hotel restricts access to one device, you can circumvent that as the hotel sees the router as the one device, and you can connect as many of your devices to the router as it supports.

Hope that helps! Jessica & Laurence

Stanley Post author

May 17, 2019 at 8:59 am

I have purchased TP Link Nano and configured to hotel WiFi. Unfortunately, it is not opening up the sign in page automatically. Hence I am not able to use the internet for my devices. What could be the possible reason?

May 17, 2019 at 10:57 am

Hi Stanley,

This can happen sometimes if your device is configured in a certain way, for example if you have a VPN running. If you connect the same device to the hotel wifi directly (without the router), does the login page come up?

Do you have another device you can try? If so, I’d logout and disconnect and try a different device.

The TP Link definitely does support this when you connect a device to it, but specific configurations can cause issues with your client devices. It’s hard to troubleshoot though as there are different possible causes.

Mark Post author

May 12, 2019 at 10:38 pm

Thanks for writing a great article about travel routers! I wish more routers/extenders would include software to function in this way.

Question: I have a particular use-case and I was wondering if any router that you’ve come across has the necessary functionality. Do any of these or any >$100 devices save the credentials of the wireless networks that you have to before and auto connect when they are available?

My wife and I travel to the same places often for work. We used the Airport Express for this for a while but we’re looking for a new solution and Apple has sadly dropped the product(one of the best smart routers out there for a long time).

Also when the local WiFi is slow we use the hotspots on our iPhones/iPad. We even have different mobile providers for different areas so one of us always has signal.

If we always had a common WiFi for all our devices that used the best signal or just auto-joined the hotspot when it was turned on we would be ecstatic!

May 13, 2019 at 8:58 am

Thanks very much!

So in our experience the travel routers we have used for this purpose (originally the Netgear Trek, although this is sadly no longer on sale) did remember the networks it had previously connected to, and would automatically reconnect to these. So we would think this would be standard for most of these. However we aren’t 100% sure as we mostly use the Trek still – the best thing might be to either contact the manufacturer of the one that sounds the best. Or just try the router that has the features you need, and then see if it works. If not, you should be able to return it for a refund.

Sorry we couldn’t be of more help. If you find out more about this in researching these routers, please let us know and we can add that to our article.

Alan Smith Post author

May 9, 2019 at 2:19 am

Thanks for sharing.

May 12, 2019 at 11:44 am

Hi Alan, glad you enjoyed the post. Just let us know if you have any questions about travel routers. Best, Jessica

Emani Post author

April 23, 2019 at 7:07 pm

Since there is no “like” button, I just wanted to quickly leave a comment to say thank you for writing this article because it was extremely helpful to a computer layman like myself. I greatly appreciate it 🙂

April 24, 2019 at 6:55 am

Hi Emani, Glad you found our article helpful, and just let us know if you have any questions about travel routers or what they do. Best, Jessica

Jacqueline Post author

April 21, 2019 at 3:54 pm

Hello I have a quick question I’m just looking for something I can get for my teenaged girls to watch Netflix and play games while on the road we do a lot of traveling and they want to watch movies and play games on there tablet and laptops do u know which router fits my family best thanks for this article by the way

April 22, 2019 at 3:08 am

Hi Jacqueline,

So the main question would be whether or not you need internet access while out and about, or just looking to extend coverage and use multiple devices at hotels etc. A travel router like these in this post can only extend an existing wireless network, so won’t help if you are in a car for example that does not have WiFi access.

If the device is primarily for use in hotels or near existing wireless networks, then any of the devices on this list would be a good fit. I’d recommend looking at the TPlink N300 or the GL iNet AR300.

If you are also looking for WiFi, then in that sort of situation you would want a wireless hotspot type device like the TEP wireless or Glocalme hotspot . You can read more about Internet access solutions while traveling in this article .

Alternatively, if you are traveling domestically, your phone may also allow you to create a wireless hotspot and share the connection with the other devices around you.

The only thing about these options is that it will depend on your daughters usage – streaming movies for example uses quite a lot of data, and most wireless hotspot services tend to restrict speeds after around 1GB of data, which is less than your average film.

Hope that helps, but do let us know if you have further questions! Laurence

Todd Post author

March 23, 2019 at 9:13 am

I just returned my new TP-Link N300 Nano after a couple of very frustrating days trying to connect it to my iPhone 6. Their helpdesk agent was friendly but couldn’t find a solution. I found a resolution in their community forum and flashed new firmware onto the device to solve the issue. Sadly, the router would lock up after a few minutes of use. I let it hang twice before declaring it useless and boxed it back up to send to Amazon.

It’s such a shame because it probably could be a good router. But who can afford to be upgrading software while on the road 🙁

March 23, 2019 at 11:39 am

Hi Todd, Thanks for taking the time to comment. Sorry to hear that this did not work out well for you, although glad you had good customer service experience. I hope you are able to find something that works for you. Best, Jessica

March 2, 2019 at 7:39 pm

Thanks for a great article. I wish I could find a device that does everything the RAVPower FileHub does, along with VPN. I need a router that does wired, wireless bridge, USB port for external HDD, Video streaming, and hopefully VPN. Any suggestions?

March 3, 2019 at 5:37 am

Hi Chris – that would be a great device indeed! We’ve taken a look around though, and we can’t find one that does everything you need – either they have VPN and don’t have file sharing, or vice versa. The best solution we can offer is something like the RAVPower FileHub, with setting up a VPN on your laptop or mobile phone. We know this is an extra step for each device, but right now we don’t know of a product that has all 5 of those features. Hopefully one will be available soon! Best, Jessica

January 31, 2019 at 6:01 am

My company has production plants all over the world. As such, there has been and will continue to be the opportunity for me to spend extended time abroad. This past year alone, I spent four weeks in Italy which is the reason I’m now searching for some sort of wifi booster. The hotels in Italy had wifi that would operate a laptop, iPhone, et cetera, but the signal was not strong/reliable enough to use my Chromecast. This meant I spent a lot of evenings looking at my iPhone 7 to watch Netflix. Not optimal!

What I need to know is will a product like this allow me to stream Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, whatever, to my Chromecast in such an instance? There is a very good chance that I might be spending weeks-on-end abroad again very soon. I would like to be able to address this issue before I leave. Any thoughts on this?

January 31, 2019 at 10:32 am

So this is not a question we can 100% answer. A travel router can boost signal and provide more secure Internet browsing, but it depends ultimately on the speed of the hotel’s connection.

First, the Internet speed in general in the location you are visiting will need to be fast enough to support streaming. It sounds like this has generally been the case in hotels you’ve stayed in, as you were able to stream to your iPhone. In that case, if your iPhone is able to stream across the WiFi, then a travel router should strengthen the signal sufficiently for the Chromecast to also work. However, we can’t guarantee it will work in every instance, so this might not be a guaranteed fix.

If you are able to download any films or TV shows we’d recommend doing this. I know Netflix lets you download some shows to supported devices. You might then be able to stream these more easily.

Alternatively, with something like the RAVPower router we mention, that acts as a streaming hub that your Chromecast should be able to stream from, if you have a hard drive or memory card with some shows on.

We think a travel router should help, but we can’t guarantee it in every situation!

Sajjad Ahmad Post author

January 23, 2019 at 1:17 am

Thanks for sharing this is such a very nice post and review of available travel routers. thanks for spending time on it. i found it very useful.

January 23, 2019 at 2:46 am

Hi Sajjad, You are very welcome and just let us know if you have any questions as you check out the different travel routers. Best, Jessica

Business Traveler Post author

December 13, 2018 at 6:49 am

great article, very helpful as a business traveler!

December 13, 2018 at 7:34 am

Thanks, glad you found it helpful! Just let us know if you have any questions about choosing a travel router. Best, Jessica

Gary Post author

December 2, 2018 at 10:39 pm

This is a very good article and comparison of different travel routers, as so far I’ve read several articles. Thank you!

December 3, 2018 at 6:00 am

Hi Gary, Thanks for taking the time to comment and glad to hear you found our travel route article helpful. Do let us know if you have any questions. Best, Jessica

Shah Post author

September 28, 2018 at 2:03 pm

This was a great informative post you have shared on this page about the internet during travelling and using travel routers. If you want to use the internet while travelling then you must buy a wireless mobile router because its signal range are large with the secure password nd also send a message to the user if someone try to hack a password, otherwise you feel trouble during travelling! Thanks.

September 29, 2018 at 8:05 pm

Hi Shah, Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, and hope you choose the best travel router for you. Wireless routers can definitely help you get online while traveling and also help keep you more secure when away from home! Best, Jessica

Bella Johsan Post author

September 28, 2018 at 2:05 am

Many wireless routers available in the market which is helpful during the travel like np15 and so many. We always want a good speed router during our travels, regarding best router I found this post really helpful.

September 29, 2018 at 7:01 am

Hi Bella, Glad you found this helpful in choosing a travel router and wishing you the best on your future travels! Best, Jessica

Sam Billings Post author

September 6, 2018 at 12:00 am

Netgear Trek is a small router for those travel a lot or whose work is to travel. This device is easy to handle and it does not need a lot of space. I really like it!

September 6, 2018 at 12:13 pm

Hi Sam, Yes, we like the Netgear Trek as well and it is a great size for travel. It is just a shame that Netgear stopped making them now. I am hoping that will come out with an updated or new travel router product that is similar to that one. Best, Jessica

pamela Post author

September 4, 2018 at 10:02 pm

TP-Link Nano travel routers N150 and N300 are so aesthetically pleasing. I have N150 and don’t have anything bad to say about it, except the price could be lower. Btw, I use Nordvpn with it, and I’d say it’s a perfect match.

September 5, 2018 at 4:06 am

Hi Pamela, Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and for your experience with the N150 travel router. Glad that you have had a good experience with it. We recommend NordVPN as well for those that need a VPN service. Best, Jessica

Jean Post author

August 11, 2018 at 3:07 pm

Hi. I’m looking into purchasing the TP-Link N300 Nano Travel Router to use at a lakeside resort. The lodge at the resort has free wi-fi but the nearby cottages do not. They last time we were there, we were able to pick up in our cottage a weak signal from the lodge. Would the TP-Link N300 Nano server to strengthen that signal. We use Mac laptops, if that matters. Obviously, we don’t know much about travel routers. Any information you can provide will be very helpful. THANKS!

August 13, 2018 at 12:53 am

Hi Jean, Yes, that is the sort of situation that the router is designed for and it should strengthen your signal and make it stronger than what it would be with only your laptops. It may not be a “strong” connection, but it should certainly be stronger. As long as you have relatively recent model laptop (last several years) most routers will work fine with most modern laptops, tablets, and phones. Wishing you a wonderful vacation at the lake! Best, Jessica

Stive Smith Post author

July 27, 2018 at 4:42 am

What a helpful technical post on travel routers! I think Wireless Router is the best one to achieve uninterrupted WiFi while blogging. I had some issues with my router which I was unable to fix on my own. Then, I got Netgear Support which was truly helpful in fixing all my router issues.

July 27, 2018 at 4:44 am

Hi Stive, So glad you found our travel routers post helpful. And yes, if you need help with a Netgear product, Netgear Support is a great place to get help with your travel router! Best, Jessica

Christina Post author

January 19, 2017 at 11:13 am

It’s nice to have WiFI while traveling and I appreciate the design and functional features of the device. The Netgear Trek’s initial function, increasing the range of existing wireless networks, sounds great.

January 20, 2017 at 3:19 am

Hi Christina, Yes, we still take the Netgear Trek travel router with us on most of our travels as it often comes in handy when we need to connect while on the road. Just let us know if you have any specific questions about the device that are not answered in the review. Best, Jessica

January 13, 2017 at 9:47 am

It’s nice that the included antenna can amplify the weak signal. Many people would find this product useful.

Harry Post author

January 3, 2017 at 2:57 pm

Thanks for the response. I”m back at home now but will try this at the next hotel. Great review. If this pans out, this truly is something that has been needed for quite a while and it will become my “go-to” solution when traveling.

travelcats Post author

January 3, 2017 at 3:18 pm

Hi Harry, We find that sometimes it does take a bit of patience and fiddling but we have been successful in using it as we described. Best of luck and please let us know how it works on your next trip! Best, Jessica & Laurence

December 30, 2016 at 9:34 am

I was led to understand the netgear N300 would allow you to use the hotel “captive portal” wifi with multiple devices. It doesn’t look like that is the case as your commenter above states. I see no option in the http://www.routerlogin.net netgear page for this to happen. It requires you to put in an ssid for the hotel network and a password. The problem is, with “captive portal” pages, there is no “password”. They ask for your room number and you to accept the user agreement.

What is needed is to be able to sign in to the netgear n300 and then open a browser and try to get on the internet and then the hotel page pops up and you enter your room number and any other required info and you are on the web.

I don’t see that capability in the netgear N300

Also, I think you may need the ability to “clone” the mac address of your laptop so your mac address isn’t always telling the hotel that you are probably using a “router” type device to get around their “one or two device” rules. If the mac address says “I’m a netgear router”, it would be easy for the hotel to not allow such mac addresses.

December 31, 2016 at 3:07 am

Hi Harry, In our experience the N300 router has allowed us to do this. You can enter the hotel SSID without a password, and then the router will forward your browser to the hotel page to log in, after which point you can browse with multiple devices. We’ve definitely used it in this situation and not had any problems at several hotels.

For the MAC address spoofing, we’ve never encountered a hotel set up intelligent enough to do this, and we suspect we never will – the effort to do so isn’t really worth the rewards we suspect.

Hope this helps, and I would message or call Netgear Support if you are having further difficulties. Best, Jessica

John-Paul Post author

October 12, 2016 at 3:24 pm

NetGear has been horrible in trying to answer my question.

I was told that I can connect in places like Starbucks that require me to click on ACCEPT their terms or a location like a hotel that might require me to enter other information on a log in screen.

I have not been able to make that happen. I select the network (such as Starbucks) and the system spins for a couple minutes and then says it can’t connect. It doesn’t take me to the needed screen to accept terms.

Is the function I want available and, if so, how is it supposed to work.

October 12, 2016 at 5:46 pm

Hi John-Paul, I am sorry to hear you have not had a great response to your question from Netgear. Um, have you gotten the Netgear to first work at your home? We were normally able to connect in public places, and have used it in hotels and coffee shops. It should first connect to the Netgear and then you should be able to then sign into the store or public screen wi-fi. Are you able to sign into the public wifi screen once you turn of the Netgear Trek? ~ Jessica

October 12, 2016 at 8:10 pm

No trouble logging on to NetGear at home and retransmitting my home network.

I was at a hospital with a public network. I was able to log on to their network (after accepting their terms on a pop up page) on both my computer and my iphone. However, when I selected the hospital network in the NetGear menu it tried to connect a couple of times but said they could not connect. It never gave me the sign on screen from the hospital.

So. The normal process should be

1) Connect my laptop to the NetGear network created by my device. 2) Go through the netgear menu and select the desired network from the available list. 3) Hit the Go/Enter/Next button (don’t remember which it’s called) 4) Any signon screen from the network should automatically come up??

It’s step 4 that isn’t happening

October 12, 2016 at 8:45 pm

Hi John-Paul, Yes, it sounds like you are doing it correctly. I don’t know what may be happening – it could be something to do with the hospital network in combo with the Netgear. But if you have had this problem at other places, it is probably the Netgear. Have you had it working in any public places you have tried? If contacting Netgear support isn’t working the best, you might try contacting them via social media such as sending them a Tweet (@Netgear) and feel free to tag me on it (@TravelCatsBlog) and I can monitor to make sure you get a reply. Sorry I can’t be more helpful but I hope Netgear can help you out. Best, Jessica

October 13, 2016 at 12:11 pm

Good news. I finally got it to work.

I’m very happy as now that we are retired this is going to be extremely useful in all the timeshares we stay in.

October 13, 2016 at 1:25 pm

Great, glad you got the Netgear Trek working! ~ Jessica

Mary Tarris Post author

February 22, 2016 at 4:38 pm

I use it to bring wifi to my laptop in various parts of the house from my desk, where it sits cabled to a broadband modem that itself is cabled to the internet. The big problem is that very often it shows up as not connected to the internet, although I can usually get it to function OK after turning various bits of kit off and then on again. Has anyone else had this hassle?.

February 24, 2016 at 4:34 am

Hi Mary, We have generally not used the device on a daily basis, but we have had issues where it disconnects itself and we have to reconnect the connection to get it rebooted. Another issues may be that since you may be in areas of the desk where there is a weak connection, it may be losing the wifi signal at times. I am not sure if there is anything you can do other than what you are doing. Anyone else have advice? ~ Jessica

Gary Jackson Post author

February 4, 2016 at 3:24 am

I am also using NETGEAR TREK since December 14. It helps me to connect multiple devices and let me do my work on the fourth flour. Its an excellent device!

February 6, 2016 at 11:04 am

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Netgear Trek. I am glad that you have found it helpful!

Gil Hale Post author

October 21, 2015 at 1:02 am

We have begun to use a DropCam camera (now a Nest product) as in some hotels we have had some items taken from our room (not Marriott). But, I found the DropCam would not connect directly to the Marriott provided WiFi in our room. I tried to use our iPad as a hotspot, but the connection was not reliable. I ended up investing in a Netgear Trek N300 WiFi router and was able to log that unit onto the Marriott WiFi with no problems, then connect our devices to the N300. Perfect…

October 24, 2015 at 6:58 am

Hi Gil, Sorry to hear about the taken items, but I am glad that you have found the Netgear Wifi router helpful during your travels! We are actually using it right now in Rome!! ~Jessica

Tom Post author

August 8, 2015 at 12:30 pm

I’ve had spotty results with the Netgear Trek. The Internet connection is flaky and it resets itself a few times each day, even when it seems to pick up a strong signal from a hotel or RV park. Did you run into that problem, too?

August 11, 2015 at 11:59 am

Hi Tom, We have not experienced the flakiness so much but we have had it reset when we have it on for a long time, but not quite that often. Maybe contact Netgear and see if they have any tips? ~Jessica

July 13, 2015 at 2:08 pm

Great review! I, too, am in the market for a travel router. Thus, I have a question: Can this be powered via a USB-powered port on my laptop or by A/C only?

July 13, 2015 at 8:27 pm

Hi Todd, thanks! Yes, you can power this via a plugged in USB cable or via the AC cord. If you use the Netgear Trek, please feel free to share your experience!

Adelina Post author

February 26, 2015 at 12:08 pm

Interesting. I’ve thought of maybe getting one of these for my own home! There are corners that just have such weak connections. It does seem a bit bulky though to be carrying it when traveling. How heavy is it?

March 4, 2015 at 3:23 pm

Hi Adelina, yes we use it both at home to extend our wifi to our patio and also sometimes while traveling. Here are the size and weight specs from the Netgear website:

Dimensions: 3.39 in x 3.31 in x 1.30 in (86.5 mm x 86.2 mm x 32 mm) Net Weight: 0.355 lb (161 g).

So it is fairly compact and not that heavy but if you are like me, every little bit can matter when trying to squeeze more things into one’s luggage so we generally just travel with it when we know we’ll be experiencing bad wi-fi. Hope that helps and feel free to ask more questions if you are deciding to buy.

Marisol@TravelingSolemates Post author

February 23, 2015 at 1:35 pm

Thanks for the review. I’ll definitely look into it. It really is frustrating if the signal is slow. . I’ll be willing to carry extra weight if it would boost connection,.

March 9, 2015 at 12:29 pm

Yes, just let me know if you have any questions about the Netgear trek Marisol!

Em... Post author

February 23, 2015 at 11:35 am

Gone are the days of combing an area for a dodgy internet cafe in order to e-mail friends and family about travels. Now you can use gadgets like this and blog away… Big innovations in just even a decade!

March 9, 2015 at 12:25 pm

Isn’t it amazing how fast Internet availability and speeds have changed in just the past 5-7 years!

Jess Post author

February 22, 2015 at 5:52 pm

My greatest frustration when traveling is places that advertise wifi when it’s too slow or unreliable to be usable – I’m fine when they just don’t have it, but I hate spending so much time trying to make it work. I think I could use one of these.

March 9, 2015 at 12:21 pm

Hi Jess, yes I agree. Better to not advertise Internet than to have Internet that is impossible to use:) This can help when there are weak signals.

Corinne Post author

February 22, 2015 at 3:38 am

Great review…as we all know living without good Internet is a killer!

March 9, 2015 at 12:13 pm

Indeed Corinne:)

Lyn (aka) The Travelling Lindfields Post author

February 22, 2015 at 1:47 am

This sounds like a very useful device for people who need the internet when they travel.

March 9, 2015 at 12:12 pm

Indeed, we find it both useful for home and for traveling!

Paula McInerney Post author

February 22, 2015 at 1:21 am

Interesting, We use netgear at home and love it. Gordon will look into this.

March 9, 2015 at 12:10 pm

Great, and just let me know if you or Gordon have any questions!

Leah | KidBucketList Post author

February 21, 2015 at 11:32 pm

I love the idea of SECURE access to public hotspots when travelling. My only concern is it’s size. It seems so big!

March 9, 2015 at 12:06 pm

Yes, it is also a pro and con when adding something extra to one’s luggage. Here are the size and weight specs from the Netgear website:

AwesomelyOZ Post author

February 19, 2015 at 9:11 pm

That’s very cool – I haven’t used this but it’s good to know it’s a reliable product. My mobile phone is a hotspot so if anything, we can connect multiple devices to it as well. It’s REALLY handy to have that functionality because it also doesn’t require any extra gear, just my phone. 🙂 Have a great one Jessica! -Iva 🙂

February 20, 2015 at 8:44 am

That sounds great and I wish I could use my cell phone as a hotspot, but it is quite expensive. Mobile hotspots are definitely very cool. The great thing about the Trek is that it is a very low cost option ($35 one time cost) for locations that have WiFi (or Ethernet) and you’d just like to make a stronger, safer, and more reliable connection.

Anda Post author

February 19, 2015 at 2:03 pm

Looks like an excellent device, I’ll be glad to look into it. The only downside is that you still need to carry a router from what I understand, which is an extra weight in the luggage…

February 20, 2015 at 8:42 am

Hi Anda, yes the Netgear Trek is a very neat device. It is pretty compact, but you do need to have the device with you to connect and increase the wifi range so it is going to take up some precious luggage space unfortunately.

SUZAN FAWCETT Post author

February 19, 2015 at 5:39 am

i was very interested in your take on this product. However I use an android tab when i travel and there was no mention made of that possibility in the specs. I research further and found that is does work with android and ios operating systems too. I am seriously looking at purchase. Thanks for bringing this device to our attention!

February 19, 2015 at 9:14 am

Yes, for some reason Netgear does not list it under the written system requirements, but the Netgear Trek works well with our Android phones and devices. Let us know if you have any other questions! ~ Jessica

February 18, 2015 at 7:52 pm

It sounds like you can use either an app or a browser on a laptop to configure the Trek in case it needs a password to connect to the hotel’s wifi, am I understanding that correctly? Because if that is the case, then $35 for a way to boost the WiFi signal is a bargain. So many hotels advertise free WiFi but deliver very slow connections.

Thanks for a great review!

February 19, 2015 at 9:09 am

Yes, that is correct. Similar to going to a coffee shop, it will bring up the Netgear page and you will choose the network you want and then connect to it as needed (if there is a password or something to click). Yes, we think the $35 is a very good value which is why Laurence bought his own so we now own two of the devices:)

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The Best Wireless Travel Routers of 2024

Pocket routers for Wi-Fi networking on the road

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks

What to Look For in a Travel Router

• Frequently Asked Questions

Frequent travelers battling poor cell service, dubious security, and excessive hotel and airport Wi-Fi fees can benefit from a good travel router when working away from home.

The best wireless travel routers avoid these hassles by letting you set up a private bubble of Wi-Fi anywhere you happen to land, whether in a conference center, hotel room, or airport lounge. 

Most people should buy the TP-Link TL-WR902AC  - it's small enough to chuck in a backpack and can even double as a Wi-Fi range extender. If you also want a cellular connection as backup, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 is for you, as it doubles as a mobile hotspot for your hotel room or car.

Best Overall - EASIEST ON THE BUDGET 2024

Tp-link tl-wr902ac travel router.

Compact size is ideal for frequent travelers

Doubles as a Wi-Fi extender

Included cables are short

TP-Link's TL-WR902AC is one of the fastest travel routers we've seen, which is especially impressive at this size and price. Measuring 2.64 x 2.91 x 0.9 inches and weighing in at only 8 ounces, it's small enough to carry in a pocket, briefcase, or backpack, so you'll be ready to set up your own Wi-Fi bubble anywhere.

For such a small device, the TL-WR902AC offers impressive dual-band Wi-Fi performance. It's also really versatile since it can be not only be used as a router or access point to create a wireless network but also as a range extender, private Wi-Fi hotspot, or even as a bridge to connect a wired device to a Wi-Fi network by using its built-in Ethernet port in the opposite direction. 

A built-in USB port lets you share files and media from a removable USB storage device, and it can also provide up to 2A of passthrough power to charge your smartphone or tablet. The only real downside is that the port layout can be awkward since the USB and micro USB power ports are on the opposite side of the Ethernet port. 

Wireless Spec: 802.11ac | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: AC750 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 1

Best Splurge

Netgear nighthawk m1.

Great choice for heavy internet users

Supports up to 20 Wi-Fi devices at once

Long battery life

Doubles as a mobile hotspot

Very expensive

Can occasionally overheat

While it's not the most affordable option on our list, it's well worth the splurge if you need to get several devices onto the internet anywhere at blazing-fast speeds.

With support for up to 20 simultaneous devices, Netgear's Nighthawk MR1100 can quickly handle your whole family or project team, and unlike most travel routers on this list, the one works as a 4G LTE mobile hotspot too. This means you'll be able to connect to its Wi-Fi network and get online even when there's no other Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. It's also the first mobile hotspot to support Gigabit LTE , with 4X4 MIMO and four-band Carrier Aggregation. Hence, it can provide internet speeds rivaling your home broadband connection.

It's not just about LTE, though—the MR1100 also works as a traditional portable router. Just plug a standard internet connection into the Ethernet port to share access to your Wi-Fi devices. A large 2.4-inch color LCD screen also ensures that you can keep track of the router's status and how much data you're using. The rechargeable battery can keep you going for up to 24 hours before you need to charge it, and in a pinch, you can also use some of that capacity to charge your smartphone or other mobile devices. 

Wireless Spec: 802.11ac / 4G LTE | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: AC750 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 1 

TP-Link TL-WR802N N300 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router

Fast single-band Wi-Fi performance

No USB port

Not the fastest internet speeds when connected to multiple devices

TP-Link’s TL-WR802N is an older single-band router that offers a surprisingly great range in its small package. While the single-band N300 rating won’t break any speed records, it still provides enough performance for lag-free 4K Netflix streaming and uninterrupted video conferences on Zoom. 

Like most travel routers, the TL-WR802N is designed for use by one or two users when you’re on the go, and the 300Mbps 802.11n speeds will likely be faster than the internet connection at most hotels and conference centers you find yourself in. This little pocket-sized router offers exceptional coverage, so you won’t need to worry about staying connected while roaming the boardroom. 

The N300 draws its power via a micro USB port that can connect directly to a wall charger or laptop, so you won’t have to worry about how to power it. It can also function as a repeater, Wi-Fi client, or extender for a public WISP hotspot. The only downside is that, unlike its dual-band sibling, the TL-WR902AC, it lacks a USB port, so you won’t be able to use it for sharing files. 

Wireless Spec: 802.11n | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: N300 | Bands: Single-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 1

Best for Road Warriors

Gl.inet mudi gl-e750.

Works as a 4G LTE mobile hotspot

Open source

Excellent VPN support

No external antenna

The GL.iNet GL-E750 router is an excellent choice for road warriors who must stay connected securely and reliably anywhere they land.

With WireGuard encryption, support for multiple Open Source VPN protocols, and even Tor anonymous network routing, this router ensures that you can always have a secure and private connection to the internet if you're a relatively advanced user. Whether that's over your hotel's shared network or your carrier's LTE network, all your traffic will be encrypted, and you can even have an always-on tunnel back into your home or office network. 

It's not just for mobile LTE access, however; it's also a capable Wi-Fi access point, with dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz support with 733Mbps throughput across both bands, along with a built-in battery that offers up to eight hours of use and a USB port and microSD card slots that can be used for sharing files with your connected devices. Since it's designed to be used from anywhere, it also features a built-in rechargeable battery that promises up to eight hours of use on a single charge. 

Lifewire / Andy Zahn

Most of the routers on the market are big and bulky devices. If you're parking them in a corner at home, this is a manageable problem, but they're not suited for taking the road with you.

This has given rise to a whole new category of travel routers: devices that are specifically designed to be highly portable—often small enough to be carried in a pocket—and run from internal batteries or a simple USB-powered connection that lets you plug them into a laptop or portable battery pack to create your own personal Wi-Fi network. 

Most importantly, since public Wi-Fi hotspots are usually insecure, a good travel router can also offer additional peace of mind by providing a private, encrypted Wi-Fi network for your traffic, securing the connections not only between your devices and the router but also making sure the traffic leaving the router is also encrypted. 

This means that you can take them just about anywhere you happen to land, whether it's between your home and the office, to a coffee shop where you might want to have more secure Wi-Fi, or on the road with you to use in hotels, conference centers, and airport lounges.

Bandwidth and Performance

When shopping for a router for your home, you're looking for enough range to blanket your home with the strong Wi-Fi signal you need to support streaming and gaming from multiple devices. 

Travel routers are different. You may find that even an entry level router—one that offers 802.11n support at 150Mbps speeds—is more than enough.

Wireless Frequencies: Single-Band vs Dual-Band

Like other wireless routers, travel routers come in single or multi-band versions, which refers to their frequencies. A single-band router works only on the 2.4GHz frequency, while a dual-band router offers both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies on two separate bands. 

Security and Privacy

As a bare minimum, every modern wireless travel router should include support for the Wireless Protected Access 2 (WPA2) encryption standard. This is even more important in a travel router you'll use in more public spaces.

While this probably isn't such a big deal if all you want to do is stream movies from Netflix, if confidentiality is essential, we strongly recommend using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when connecting through a travel router. While you can do this directly from your devices, you'll probably find it even simpler to pick up a travel router with built-in VPN support so that your connection is automatically encrypted as soon as you plug it in.

Connectivity

Almost all travel routers offer the same connectivity as your home router—turning a wired connection into a Wi-Fi network. However, as more hotels offer guest Wi-Fi networks instead of Ethernet jacks, you'll probably find getting a travel router that can also connect to a public Wi-Fi network is more beneficial.

There's also a category of travel routers that can act as mobile hotspots to offer internet access for your mobile devices over an LTE cellular network.

Even though most hotels already offer free Wi-Fi, it’s often struggling under the load of many people using it, so having a travel router can provide better performance, especially if you can plug it into a wired connection in your room. Plus, most public Wi-Fi hotspots are completely insecure, allowing your traffic to be easily intercepted by anybody else on the same Wi-Fi network. Using a router plugged into ethernet will also often save you money as you won't have to pay for the usable 'premium' internet package.

The best travel routers offer industry-standard WPA2 encryption—the same type of security used by your home router—which means that all of your wireless traffic is safe from prying eyes. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are open networks that use no encryption at all but keep in mind that if you’re using a travel router as a wireless extender for a public Wi-Fi hotspot, your traffic will still be unencrypted between your travel router and the hotspot. For the best security, use a wired connection or a VPN wherever possible.

Even if you use your travel router in your hotel room, internet traffic still travels over the hotel’s network. While most sensitive sites and services like email and online banking use SSL encryption, this won’t prevent the hotel or other public hotspot provider from seeing where you’re going; they just won’t be able to know what you’re doing. If you want to ensure your connection is as private and secure as possible, we recommend using a travel router with built-in VPN support.

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Nighthawk ® LTE Mobile Hotspot Router

Get fast streaming with advanced mobile WiFi

Easy setup and use with the Nighthawk App

With the Nighthawk App, setup takes just minutes, so you can start enjoying better WiFi sooner. You can also see your connected devices, run an internet speed test, manage your NETGEAR service subscriptions, and more from the palm of your hand.

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Connect wired devices to the 1g ethernet port for gigabit speed.

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Nighthawk M1 Mobile Band: 4G LTE WiFi: WiFi 5, up to 150Mbps Devices: up to 20 Ethernet: 1G port

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The Great Outdoors

The 8 best unlocked portable Wi-Fi hotspots for travelers and digital nomads

An unlocked portable Wi-Fi hotspot is a must for travelers, digital nomads, or backpackers. Here are our top picks for portability, speed, and network coverage.

As a digital nomad you’re either strapping up your hiking boots to hit the local trails, or flying to Mexico for a week of margaritas and sunshine. And with remote work becoming more common, a life spent hopping between countries is finally within reach for many of us. But life on the road, or in the woods, lacks one necessary modern convenience: an internet connection.

Fortunately, portable Wi-Fi hotspots are the perfect solution for travelers and digital nomads to stay connected. These compact devices provide a high-speed connection wherever you go, so you can get your work done (and pay the bills) while exploring new locales or camping beneath towering evergreens.

How do mobile Wi-Fi hotspots work?

A portable Wi-Fi hotspot is a pocketable device that uses a cellular signal to create your own Wi-Fi network. These hotspots typically output both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi connections, and connect to the internet through mobile networks that transmit cellular data through radio waves, called frequencies. This means that you can connect your laptop , tablet, or smartphone to the internet even if there is no public Wi-Fi available. Portable Wi-Fi hotspots are sometimes also called "Mi-Fi" devices.

Features to look for in a Wi-Fi hotspot

Prepaid data packages vs. SIM card

To get your portable Wi-Fi device connected to the internet, you will need to purchase a prepaid data plan or local SIM card. If you plan to use your Wi-Fi hotspot for international travel, look for a device that has prepaid data plans available. Purchasing a prepaid plan prior to leaving on a trip means you can skip the hassle of locating a foreign service provider and picking up a SIM card.

If you're planning on using your hotspot primarily in the U.S. and North America, purchasing a SIM card from a major carrier like AT&T or T-Mobile will get you the best network coverage. I recommend this option for campers , hikers , or van-lifers that require an internet connection in remote locations.

Supported networks and frequencies

The frequencies used to transmit data vary depending on the region or country you're in and the carrier you're on. You need to keep an eye out for which frequencies your hotspot will support.

The most common networks and their frequencies include:

• 2G/3G : The second- and third-generation of wireless technology. These networks run on either GSM (Global System for Mobiles) or CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) frequencies. GSM is more widely used and better for travelers.
• 4G or LTE : This network is currently the global standard and offers the fastest connection speeds. 4G transmits through LTE frequencies, and only uses GSM or CDMA as a fallback when there is no LTE connection available.
• 5G: The fifth-generation mobile network technology provides increased reliability, speed, and network capacity, but global coverage is currently only at 25 percent . Outside of major cities, 4G LTE and 3G networks are the most widely available.

Luckily, device makers don’t want to build a different device for every frequency, so most Wi-Fi hotspots are compatible with 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE. Keep in mind that your hotspot will only work in areas where there is cellular coverage , no matter the frequency. Oftentimes, remote locations will not have a signal since there aren't any nearby cellular towers or the closest one can't reach it.

Input may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article. We only include products that have been independently selected by Input's editorial team.

Reliable hotspot built for traveling, with 18-hour battery life and 450Mbps download speeds.

The NETGEAR Unite Explore AC815S is a fast and reliable hotspot with 18 hours of battery life. This device provides download speeds up to 450Mbps. The device is compatible with GSM SIM cards, so you can use it with your preferred service provider. Bonus points go to the Unite Explore for its durable design with rubber bumpers and splash resistance.

Provides SIM-free global coverage and allows you to connect up to five devices.

The MightyWiFi is a SIM-free hotspot that supports 29 frequencies on the 4G network which provides you with coverage in over 150 countries. This hotspot has flexible global data plans that are prepaid, ranging from 3GB to 30GB. The 5,000 mAh battery also doubles as a portable power bank with up to 12 hours of usage. The MightyWiFi supports up to five devices at once.

Powerful, pocket-sized and supports most international SIM cards.

The GlocalMe G4 is a powerful pocket-sized hotspot with up to 12 hours of battery life, built-in data plans, and support for SIM cards from over 140 countries. With a 5-inch touchscreen display for easy setup and configuration, and built-in apps like Google Maps, this little device is a fuss-free companion.

A durable spill-resistant hotspot that can be easily connected via NFC. Best in class battery life.

The Huawei E5885 Wifi 2 has lightning fast 300Mbps download speeds and is compatible with 4G LTE bands in Europe, North America, and Asia. A built-in 6,400 mAh battery pack provides 25 hours of battery life and a 2-in-1 lanyard charging cable that can easily keep both the hotspot or your phone powered up. Setup is made simple thanks to single-tap NFC connectivity. Plus, it's dust and spill-resistant, so it’s a great fit for more rugged adventures.

A mobile hotspot that is both fast and reliable, with a built-in 5,000 mAh battery.

The Netgear Nighthawk M1 is an unlocked 4G mobile hotspot that's fast and reliable. It comes with a built-in 5,000 mAh battery capable of providing 11 hours worth of power while you're out hiking or traveling. This compact device has a USB port for media streaming from an external drive or for charging your phone in a pinch. Compatible with SIM cards from most major service providers, but also supports prepaid data plans from AT&T and T-Mobile.

A GSM unlocked hotspot that supports both 4G and 5G networks.

The ZTE Velocity MF923 is a GSM unlocked hotspot that supports up to 10 devices at once. It comes with a 2,800 mAh battery that provides 10 hours of battery life, and you can insert a microSD to use as a shared network drive. The Velocity also has a bright and responsive 2.4-inch touchscreen display, which makes it easy to set up your device within minutes. This device connects to both 4G and 5G networks in 200 countries.

Budget hotspot that supports 4G LTE speeds and works with a micro-SIM from any GSM carrier.

Alcatel’s LINKZONE is a simple budget hotspot capable of providing 4G LTE speeds up to 150Mbps. The LINKZONE works with a SIM card from any GSM carrier and supports up to 15 devices at once. You’ll get six hours of juice out of the 1,800 mAh battery, and setup is a breeze thanks to the user-friendly interface. This hotspot is ideal for travelers heading to Central or South America since it is compatible with 4G networks that transmit through 1,700-2,100 Mhz frequencies.

Affordable option that provides 6 hours of battery life and fast download speeds.

The Huawei E5577Cs hotspot costs less than $100. It has a 1,500 mAh battery that lasts for six hours on average and supports all GSM networks. Download speeds reach up to 150Mbps. This hotspot can also be used as a Wi-Fi extender at home, making it useful even when you’re not traveling. On top of that, with the LCD touchscreen, you can view available networks, battery life, and easily tinker with other settings.

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Home » Gear » The Best Travel Routers – Stay Connected in 2024

The Best Travel Routers – Stay Connected in 2024

I arrived in India a week ago, and immediately upon exiting Delhi airport, realized that my phone was having some serious trouble connecting to the internet. After trying and trying to get it to work, I gave up hope and stumbled up to the taxi booth.

I told the driver to take to me to “an area of the city where there are a lot of cheap guesthouses.” He told me we should go to “Paharganj,” so and to Paharganj we went.

Well, I quickly realized that there were a lot of cheap guesthouses in Paharganj, but they were a bit… too cheap, if you catch my drift. Rats tumbled through garbage, suspicious men stared at me, and the neon lights illuminated a neighborhood of overall chaos — and oh yeah, it was 1:00 am. I ended up staying the night, but it was far from ideal.

It goes without saying that if I only had an internet connection at the airport, I could have avoided this whole mess in the first place! Lesson learnt … the hard way!

That’s why in this article, I’m going to help you stay connected wherever you go, by giving you an in-depth look at the best travel Wi-Fi routers of 2024.

It’s my hope that, armed with this knowledge, you won’t end up confusedly wandering the back alleys of a shady neighborhood in Delhi in the middle of the night!

TP-Link TL-WR902AC Router

• Internet Access > Ethernet and WISP
• Wi-Fi Standard(s) > Wi-Fi 5: IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5 GHz and IEEE 802.11n/b/g 2.4 GHz
• Wi-Fi Speed(s) > 5 GHz: 433 Mbps (802.11ac) and 2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps (802.11n)
• Wi-Fi Range > 2 Bedroom Houses: 2× Fixed Antennas (Internal)
• Network Security > SPI Firewall, Access Control, IP & MAC Binding, Application Layer Gateway
• Ethernet Port(s) > 1× 10/100 Mbps WAN/LAN Port
• Power Source > 5V/2A

GL.iNet “Mango” GL-MT300N-V2 Mini Travel Router

• Internet Access > Ethernet, Repeater, USB Modem, and Tethering
• Wi-Fi Standard(s) > IEEE 802.11b/g/n
• Wi-Fi Speed(s) > 300 Mbps (2.4GHz)
• Network Security > Built-in firewall, OpenVPN and WireGuard capability, DNS server
• Ethernet Port(s) > 1 x WAN Ethernet port, 1 x LAN Ethernet port
• Power Source > Micro USB, 5V/2A
• Price > $29.90

NewQ Filehub AC750 Travel Router

• Internet Access > Ethernet cable
• Wi-Fi Standard(s) > 5.8 GHz, 2.4 GHz
• Wi-Fi Speed(s) > 1,300 Mbps
• Ethernet Port(s) > 1 x Ethernet port
• Power Source > Chargeable battery
• Price > $84.90

RoamWiFi 4G LTE WiFi Mobile Hotspot Router

• Internet Access > Built-in 4G LTE data plans
• Wi-Fi Standard(s) > 802.11n, 802.11b and 802.11ac
• Wi-Fi Speed(s) > 150 Mbps
• Ethernet Port(s) > None (because none needed!)
• Power Source > High-capacity 5000mAh lithium battery
• Price > $159.99

GL.iNet Mudi GL-E750 4G LTE Privacy Travel Router

• Internet Access > SIM Card
• Wi-Fi Standard(s) > 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
• Wi-Fi Speed(s) > 2.4GHz: 300 Mbps and 5GHz: 433Mbps
• Network Security > OpenVPN and WireGuard capability, and Encrypted DNS with Cloudflare DNS over TLS, or DNS via HTTPS proxy
• Ethernet Port(s) > 1 x FE Port
• Power Source > 7000mAh battery

What is a Travel Router and What Does It Do?

How much does a travel router cost, the 5 best travel routers of 2024 – tried and tested, alternatives to using a travel router, final thoughts – best travel routers in 2024.

A travel router does the same thing as your Wi-Fi router at home: it sends out a wireless internet signal that your computer and phone can connect to. But if you’ve ever really looked at the big jumbled mess of antennas and cables that make up your home internet, you might be wondering how it could possibly be convenient to travel with one of these puppies.

This is where travel routers (keyword: travel ) really shine. They’re tiny, often very light, and instead of being connected to a big ol’ clunky modem, they get their internet connection the same way your phone does: via cell signal.

But if that’s true, you might now be wondering why you’d ever need a travel router when you have a phone. The reason? Travel routers come with a huge amount of connection benefits that your phone, even with a trusty personal hotspot, can’t touch.

Before we get to that though, it’s important to note that not all travel routers acquire their cell signals the same way. Some require a SIM card, others require a USB modem, and some actually need a standard Ethernet input (which can be hard to find while traveling).

Before you purchase a router on this list, check out the “Internet Access” line to see which method it uses before adding it to your digital nomad packing list .

Benefits of Travel Routers

• Better connection: Most travel routers simply provide a much stronger and faster internet connection than mobile hotspots. I mean, these things are optimized to provide Wi-Fi connection on the go, whereas your phone’s hotspot feature is more of an afterthought — an added bonus. Some travel routers have antennas for signal-boosting, and all of the ones on our list use advanced Wi-Fi technology. This means a stronger connection and extended range.
• Multiple devices: Travel routers allow you to connect more than one device at a time. Now, most hotspots also allow you to do this, but it’s often at the expense of internet speed. So if you’re traveling with a group, or if you’re just a Digital Nomad with more complex needs, a travel router will serve your purposes wonderfully.
• Increased security: If you’re concerned about data theft, using a travel router is usually a much better choice than using a mobile hotspot. Travel routers typically support advanced encryption protocols like WPA/WPA2, ensuring a secure wireless connection between your devices and the router. They also make use of advanced safety technology like firewalls, MAC filtering, and blacklisting/whitelisting.
• Longer battery life: Since travel routers are literally designed to provide a mobile internet connection, their batteries are built to last for a long time. Just try streaming a YouTube video via your hotspot and you’ll see your battery start to plummet (not to mention your phone will start to heat up like you’ve put it in the microwave). The difference in battery power between a travel router and your mobile hotspot becomes especially clear when you have multiple devices connected.

The Broke Backpacker is supported by you . Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more .

Drawbacks of Travel Routers

• Constantly connecting: If you’re planning on skipping out on a SIM card for your phone, and connecting to the internet only with a travel router, you might want to rethink that. One huge benefit of a mobile phone is that it’s always connected (or at least, always trying to connect). If you’re relying solely on a travel router, you’ll definitely end up a bit frustrated at the hassle of constantly connecting, disconnecting, shutting the router off, turning it back on, etc.
• Money: Travel routers tend to be a bit on the pricey side. We’ll get more into this below, but if you already spent hundreds on a mobile smartphone, you might think twice about throwing away still more cash for a device that’s incredibly convenient, but not strictly necessary.
• Cumbersome: This is ironic, given that the major draw of travel routers is their compact size — but it bears mentioning that, when living the Broke Backpacker life, every extra pound and every extra potential pocket in your backpack really counts. Again, a travel router can be immensely helpful, but it’s not totally essential for your travel packing list — so think about whether the extra weight and the loss of pack space is really 100% worth it for you.

I’m going to be real with you here.

You should expect to pay anywhere between $20 and $130 for a travel router.

However …

You should expect to pay anywhere between $70 and $130 for a travel router that works !

Slightly kidding, but also not. Trust me when I say that a travel router is not an area where you want to save as much money as possible.

You wouldn’t book a helicopter tour after seeing a sign that said “Cheapest in Town!” would you? In the same way, when you’re traveling (and especially when you’re solo backpacking), an internet connection can be a lifesaver. My advice is to save up, spend the extra dough, and get yourself a reliable travel router with a long lifespan, otherwise it’s just a complete false economy !

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• Internet Access: Ethernet and WISP
• Wi-Fi Standard(s): Wi-Fi 5: IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5 GHz and IEEE 802.11n/b/g 2.4 GHz
• Wi-Fi Speed(s): 5 GHz: 433 Mbps (802.11ac) and 2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps (802.11n)
• Wi-Fi Range: 2 Bedroom Houses: 2× Fixed Antennas (Internal)
• Network Security: SPI Firewall, Access Control, IP & MAC Binding, Application Layer Gateway
• Ethernet Port(s): 1× 10/100 Mbps WAN/LAN Port
• Power Source: 5V/2A

As we go down this list, you’ll find that one common thread between all of these routers is their utterly unpronounceable names.

To start, the TL-WR902AC comes in a beautiful, minimalistic white design. This thing is so tiny it can easily fit in your pocket, and it comes with multiple modes: Router, Hotspot, Range Extender, Client, and Access Point.

If you’re a tech geek and you want lots of options, the TL-WR902AC is an excellent place to start. The main drawback with the TL-WR902AC is its lack of a battery; you can only use this router when it’s plugged into a power source… so blogging at the beach might be a stretch!

The setup for the TL-WR902AC is relatively straightforward. It basically involves switching your router on, setting it to your desired mode, connecting your device to the network, creating a TP-Link account, and then surfing the internet to your heart’s content!

The TL-WR902AC is shaped like a tiny square with rounded corners. It’s super small and lightweight, measuring only 2.91 × 2.64 × 0.87 inches and weighing a measly 57 grams. So perfect for packing light.

GL.iNet “Mango” GL-MT300N-V2 Mini Travel Router

• Internet Access: Ethernet, Repeater, USB Modem, and Tethering
• Wi-Fi Standard(s): IEEE 802.11b/g/n
• Wi-Fi Speed(s): 300 Mbps (2.4GHz)
• Network Security: Built-in firewall, OpenVPN and WireGuard capability, DNS server
• Ethernet Port(s): 1 x WAN Ethernet port, 1 x LAN Ethernet port
• Power Source: Micro USB, 5V/2A
• Price: $29.90

The GL-MT300N-V2 is a new and improved version of GL.iNet’s original travel router. It’s a sexy little thing that comes in a striking yellow color scheme. V2 features doubled the RAM capacity (128 MB, up from 64), as well as adding an MTK driver for optimizing connection and lightning-fast OpenVPN encryption.

Like the TL-WR902AC, a main drawback for the GL-MT300N-V2 is that it doesn’t have a battery, which means you need an external power source to use it.

Setting up the GL-MT300N-V2 for the first time should take no more than 15-30 minutes. Simply turn on the router, connect your device via Wi-Fi, wait until you’re redirected to the web admin page, create an account, adjust your Wi-Fi settings, and bam! You’re good to go.

The GL-MT300N-V2 has a beautiful, opaque yellow finish. It’s really, really, really tiny, measuring only 2.28 x 2.28 x 0.98 inches and weighing only 40 grams. Minimalist travellers rejoice!

• Internet Access: Ethernet cable
• Wi-Fi Standard(s): 5.8 GHz, 2.4 GHz
• Wi-Fi Speed(s): 1,300 Mbps
• Ethernet Port(s): 1 x Ethernet port
• Power Source: Chargeable battery
• Price: $84.90

Generally speaking, when you see the little “Amazon’s Choice” badge underneath a product, you know it’s going to be quality. The NewQ Filehub AC750 is no exception. Compared to the first two routers on this list, this one is a bit more cumbersome and heavy, but it packs way more of a punch.

The Filehub feature makes this router an excellent choice for photographers: you can connect an external hard drive or SD card directly to the router, and then access the files on the hard drive from your phone or computer 100% remotely. The NewQ Filehub AC750 is a great buy if you don’t care so much about portability and you need a true powerhouse of a router.

The setup process for the Filehub AC750 is straightforward, but pretty dang detailed. Rather than half-heartedly going into it here, I recommend you check out the official user manual for setup information.

As I mentioned earlier, this router is a bit more on the hefty side, but for good reason: it also functions as a power bank for when your phone needs an emergency charge! It measures 5.08 x 3.23 x 1.93 inches and weighs 258 grams. It’s a great product for slower-travelling digital nomads that need the extra power.

Now, you  could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card!  REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

• Internet Access: Built-in 4G LTE data plans
• Wi-Fi Standard(s): 802.11n, 802.11b and 802.11ac
• Wi-Fi Speed(s): 150 Mbps
• Ethernet Port(s): None (because none needed!)
• Power Source: High-capacity 5000mAh lithium battery
• Price: $159.99

This is the router for the fast traveler. If you’re not planning on staying in the same spot for more than a few days at a time, go with this RoamWiFi router. Why? Unlike the other routers on this list, it actually comes with three different data package choices, without any SIM card, USB modem, or Ethernet cable necessary.

The packages offer data coverage on every continent (except Antarctica — what a bummer!) This thing is tiny and light, it looks super dope, and the battery lasts more than 18 hours — which means you’re unlikely to get caught in a tight spot with no internet.

If ultra-fast download speeds aren’t a necessity and you want to maximize convenience, this is the router for you.

The RoamWifi travel router is trivially easy to set up: make sure you’ve purchased a RoamWifi data plan for your router, then turn it on and connect! Yup, that’s literally it.

This travel router is a striking bright orange, and shaped kind of like a mini smartphone. It measures 4.96 x 2.68 x 0.57 inches and weighs about 175 grams.

• Internet Access: SIM Card
• Wi-Fi Standard(s): 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
• Wi-Fi Speed(s): 2.4GHz: 300 Mbps and 5GHz: 433Mbps
• Network Security: OpenVPN and WireGuard capability, and Encrypted DNS with Cloudflare DNS over TLS, or DNS via HTTPS proxy
• Ethernet Port(s): 1 x FE Port
• Power Source: 7000mAh battery

The Mudi GL-E750 is a bit on the pricey side, but it’s absolutely packed full of features. This puppy makes connecting to the internet super easy: the router is powered by a SIM card, which means getting it up and running is just as easy as it is with a phone.

It’s heavier than the above RoamWifi router, but it’s got more than double the download speed and a more powerful battery. As long as you don’t mind using a SIM card like you would with a phone, this router is essentially a bigger, beefier version of the RoamWifi.

The Mudi GL-E750 also comes with a plethora of security features, making it a great choice for those dealing with confidential data.

Setup involves popping in a SIM, powering on the router, connecting with your phone, adjusting some settings on the admin page, and then sitting back and enjoying a lightning-fast internet connection!

The Mudi GL-E750 measures 5.71 x 3.05 x 0.93 inches, and weighs 285 grams. It’s sleek, black, and has a small LCD screen, which makes settings adjustments super easy.

As clever and nifty as all of these travel routers are, it’s just a fact that not everyone needs the kind of heavy-duty utility that they provide. Most of us just want to book a hostel online, check Google Maps, and maybe stream a little Netflix.

If you feel like a travel router is slightly overkill for the kinds of things you use the internet for, check out the below alternatives.

If you’re not a veteran traveler (yet!) you may be surprised to learn that Wi-Fi is usually provided at nearly every hostel or hotel you could dream of — even some of the really off-the-beaten-path ones! You can also usually find internet cafes with relative ease in most reasonably developed towns and cities.

Using a provided WiFi network has the disadvantage of inconvenience, but it’s got some serious benefits as well:

• You won’t have to spend money on data plans or worry about your data running out;
• Because most provided Wi-Fi connections get their internet from a wired source, you won’t have any trouble with random “spotty” connections;
• Even the worst provided Wi-Fi networks are usually pretty fast, which is everything if you’re a Digital Nomad.

If you’re going to go this route, then for convenience’s sake I recommend booking your accommodation online as often as you can. This way you can verify beforehand whether or not Wi-Fi is provided. And again, you’d be surprised how many small unassuming cafes offer free internet too — so grab a coffee and take advantage of these places as much as possible!

To be honest with you, this is what most of us at the Broke Backpacker tend to do. Here’s why:

• Mobile hotspots have made many improvements over the last few years, so if your phone has 4G or 5G coverage, you’ll be pretty speedy on the ol’ worldwide web.
• There are tons of cheap, unlimited data plans these days, especially in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand or Sri Lanka. This means you’ll have complete peace of mind while streaming The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions from your hostel.
• Finally, travel eSIMs are a thing now, which means you hardly ever need to go through the hassle of buying a physical SIM card.

Regarding that last point, we hear at the Broke Backpacker loves the HolaFly eSIM . They’ve got a huge range of packages at different price points, with coverage in pretty much any country you could imagine. Buy an unlimited data plan with HolaFly, plug in your phone, connect to the hotspot, and you’re good to go!

If you want to know a bit more then check out our rundown of the best eSims for travel and backpacking before making your mind up.

Our GREATEST Travel Secrets…

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To conclude, it bears repeating that an internet connection is really dang important when you’re traveling these days. Everyone relies on it now, which means that if you want to know where to go, when to be there, and how to get there, chances are you’ll need a solid internet connection.

How you get this connection is totally up to you. The 5 best travel routers that I covered in this article are all excellent choices, each with its own specific pros and cons. To be totally honest, it would be hard to go wrong with any of them.

It all depends on what you’re going to use the internet for. If you’re a serious Digital Nomad, a photographer, or a videographer, you’re likely going to be dealing with huge amounts of data, and you’ll need a very dependable connection to do what you do best. If this is you, buy yourself a good travel router and rest easy.

For the rest of us, however, a good ol’ personal hotspot connection will do the trick just fine, especially if you’ve pre-purchased an eSIM from our good friends over at HolaFly.

Made it this far? You get 15% OFF to book a place to stay ! Offer valid exclusively for Broke Backpackers 😉

Aiden Freeborn

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Specifications

/ 4 Download

AC750 Wireless Travel Router

• Transforms any internet connection into a private AC750 dual-band Wi-Fi network*
• Incredibly compact router fits easily in your pocket, purse or bag, perfect for traveling
• Works with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz devices, including Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV Stick
• USB port lets you share files or conveniently charge any device with up to 5V/1A of power
• Flexible powering options let you connect to an external adapter or USB port

How to install and configure your portable router(TL-WR902AC)

Fast Wi-Fi Travels with You!

Portable and compact.

The incredibly compact TL-WR902AC is the world’s first AC750 travel router. Take it with you to create a personal Wi-Fi spot anywhere internet is available. It fits easily in your pocket, purse or bag and is perfect for use while traveling. Watch movies over private dual-band Wi-Fi at a hotel.

Dual-Band AC for Fast Wi-Fi Speeds

The travel router creates fast AC750 Wi-Fi over dual 2.4 GHz (300 Mbps) and 5 GHz (433 Mbps) bands. Dual bands allow for more devices to be connected to your personal network and provide reliable Wi-Fi access so you can enjoy what you love without interruptions.

802.11n 2.4G 300Mbps

802.11ac 5G 433Mbps

 Multiple Wi-Fi Modes for Any Situation

Whether you need a private Wi-Fi network while away or something to boost your Wi-Fi at home, the TL-WR902AC has a mode for you.

During Travel

1. router mode.

Plug the travel router in to your hotel room's Ethernet port to create a private Wi-Fi network for internet access without needing to compete with other guests.

2. Hotspot Mode

Connect to an outdoor WISP Access Point, enjoy a private Wi-Fi hotspot for your devices in public areas.

3. Range Extender Mode

Extend your existing Wi-Fi network to maximize coverage and eliminate dead zones.

4. Client Mode

Allow devices that require a wired connection to access an existing Wi-Fi network.

Desktop or Game Console

5. Access Point Mode

Create a wireless network for Wi-Fi enabled devices.

Multifunctional USB Port for File Sharing and Charging

A The travel router comes with a built-in USB 2.0 sharing port. Connect a USB storage drive to share access to files, download movies and back up recent photos. Connect your smartphone cable and the router doubles as a 5V/1A charging station for one device.

*Maximum wireless transmission rates are the physical rates derived from IEEE Standard 802.11 specifications. Range and coverage specifications along with the number of connected devices were defined according to test results under normal usage conditions. Actual wireless transmission rate, wireless coverage, and number of connected devices are not guaranteed, and will vary as a result of 1) environmental factors, including building materials, physical objects and obstacles, 2) network conditions, including local interference, volume and density of traffic, product location, network complexity, and network overhead and 3) client limitations, including rated performance, location, connection quality, and client condition.

Actual network speed may be limited by the rate of the product's Ethernet WAN or LAN port, the rate supported by the network cable, Internet service provider factors and other environmental conditions.

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RouterFreak Reviews, Tips and Tools for Network Engineers

Best router with a sim card slot (2024), daniele besana.

Inserting a 4G or 5G SIM card into a router can improve your Internet connection by letting more devices connect to the network and using router features like beamforming and MU-MIMO to make your connection better.

The best SIM card routers use the WiFi 6 standard for improved speed and security , include multiple ports for wired connections, and are compatible with many telecom operators.

SIM card routers should not be confused with mobile hotspot devices . SIM card routers resemble regular routers which require connection to a power source and contain multiple ports.

Mobile hotspot devices are small, portable devices designed for mobile network internet access on the go.

The Netgear LAX20 is the editor’s choice for the best router with a SIM Card slot as it features WiFi 6 technology that delivers faster speeds of up to 1.8 Gbps which enables you to stream, download, and transfer 1.5 times faster than the previous technology. The four WiFi streams provide reliability and high performance for up to 4 times more smart home devices, allowing for simultaneous and uninterrupted streaming.

The Cudy LT700 is another great choice and features the 4G LTE Cat.6 Connectivity with data rates of up to 300/50 Mbps. The built-in 4*4 high-performance antennas have MU-MIMO technology which expands the internet coverage and increases your service capacity. It can easily create a connection to the VPN server to securely transfer all your online traffic and data.

The Netgear MR6150 delivers secure and blazing-fast 5G internet and can achieve speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps for on-the-go travel as well as your primary home internet connection allowing you to game, stream, and work simultaneously. The MR6150 comes with two TS9 RF, one 1Gbps Ethernet, and one USB Type-C port.

Although most SIM cards are compatible with the majority of SIM card routers, the type of SIM plan you have can affect compatibility.

For example, some prepaid plans or limited internet plans may not work in a SIM card router.

For this article, we have tested 24 SIM card routers , with the top 7 making our product reviews.

7 Best LTE & 5G SIM Card Routers (2024)

• Best Overall: Netgear Nighthawk LAX20
• Runner-Up:  Cudy LT700
• Best 5G Router:  Netgear Nighthawk MR6150
• Budget Friendly:  Cudy LT500D
• Best Portable Router:  NRadio C2000
• Best For Multiple Carriers:  Alcatel HH41NH
• Basic LTE Router:  D-Link DWR-921

Finding the best LTE and 5G SIM card router is essential especially if you are a traveller or living in an area that does not have access to satellite or cable internet.

A quality router containing a SIM card slot should provide a consistent and stable internet connection.

Below are the reviews of the top 7 routers with a SIM card slot that you can choose from.

Each review comprises of design and performance of the router as well as the specifications, who it is made for, pros, and cons.

1. Netgear Nighthawk LAX20 (Editor’s Choice)

The Netgear LAX20 features WiFi 6 technology that delivers faster speeds of up to 1.8 Gbps. This speed enables you to stream, download, and transfer 1.5 times faster than the previous technology.

The four WiFi streams provide reliability and high performance for up to 4 times more smart home devices, allowing for simultaneous and uninterrupted gaming, movies, video calls, and more on all the connected devices.

Performance

For the Netgear LAX20 to work, you need a Nano SIM card from your carrier and activation of a compatible Bring Your Device (BYOD) data plan that meets your data requirements.

The LAX20 comes with download speeds of up to 300 Mbps. You should note that these speeds can change depending on the service and its proximity to the nearest cell tower.

If your current internet service fails, you can use the LAX20 for backup internet by inserting your provider’s Nano SIM card into it and it will seamlessly switch over to 4G LTE. You can protect your entire WiFi using an automatic shield of security on all your devices, which comes with a 30-day free trial.

The Nighthawk app enables you to set up the LAX20 in minutes. You can also use it to easily monitor data usage, manage your WiFi settings, and test internet speed. The four Ethernet ports enable you to connect your computers, game consoles, and other streaming players.

The OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies ensure that you have simultaneous streaming on all your devices. Beamforming technology directs the WiFi signal to devices involved in bandwidth-intensive tasks.

You can use the USB port to create personal cloud storage that is accessible anywhere. The LAX20 features the WPA3 wireless security protocols to ensure that your network is safe.

Who It’s For

The Netgear LAX20 can be used as a backup or primary internet connection and is suitable when service is unavailable or weak.

• Speed: 8 Gbps
• Wireless Protocol: 11ax
• WiFi Range: 1500 sq. ft.
• Bands: Dual-Band
• Ports: 4 Ethernet, 1 USB
• Supported Carriers: T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon
• Decent coverage range.
• Fast WiFi 6 connection.
• Nice build design and quality.
• Comes with two external antennas.
• None found.

2. Cudy LT700 (Runner-Up)

The Cudy LT700 features the 4G LTE Cat.6 Connectivity with data rates of up to 300/50 Mbps. The built-in 4*4 high-performance antennas have MU-MIMO technology which expands the internet coverage and increases your service capacity.

This 4G router can easily create a connection to the VPN server to transfer all your online traffic and data while securing it at the same time.

The Cudy LT700 comes with a replaceable cellular antenna interface that offers different installation possibilities. 2*5dBi WiFi antenna and 4*5dBi cellular antenna improve the signal quality of WiFi and 4G LTE and enhance the sensitivity of the router.

Also, the cellular antenna has a detachable design which enables you to use it as an external cellular antenna with the help of the SMA connector, in which you can plug extension cables up to 10 meters. 

The Dual WAN and SIM Failover enables you to always be on the internet. The two SIM slots keep the device always online and provide redundancy. You can choose to use either SIM card 2 or SIM card 1, fill both SIM slots, or auto-select using Cudy. We tested out each variation and they performed very well, giving us a great variety of network options.

Set the LAN/WAN port as WAN to allow Cudy to use landline internet from WAN. The 3G/4G connection can be used as a backup to deliver a reliable and sustained internet connection.  The 4G/5G band lock enables you to lock the 4G working frequency to single or multiple bands to keep the operation stable.

In terms of security, the Cudy LT700 is compatible with 20 DDNS providers making it convenient to manage your remote cameras if you have CCTV installed at home.

Also, the advanced DNS security prevents manipulation and eavesdropping of DNS data through a man-in-the-middle attack.

The Cudy LT700 is a 4G router that is suitable for users looking to get a stable high-speed internet experience and improved signal quality both inside and outside of your home.

• Speed: 1200 Mbps
• Wireless Protocol: WiFi 5 (802.11ac)
• WiFi Range: Up to 1200 sq. ft
• Ports: 4 Ethernet
• Supported Carriers: AT&T, T-Mobile
• Faster and stable connection.
• Multiple VPN server compatibility.
• Advanced security features.
• Improved signal quality.
• Setting it up is a bit difficult.

3. Netgear Nighthawk MR6150 (Best 5G Router)

The Netgear MR6150 delivers secure and blazing-fast 5G internet and can achieve speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps for on-the-go travel as well as your primary home internet connection allowing you to game, stream, and work simultaneously.

The MR6150 comes with two TS9 RF, one 1 Gbps Ethernet, and one USB Type-C port. It has a greater capacity to provide internet connection for up to 32 devices and has exceptional performance.

The Netgear MR6150 is a portable hotspot for 4G LTE and 5G around the world and is certified with T-Mobile and AT&T. It needs a 5G compatible SIM card to work, therefore, ask your network provider to give you the best 5G data plan to suit your requirements.

The Ethernet port can be used to extend 5G internet speed to your entire home. Just plug your home’s Orbi mesh system or WiFi router into the port. You can also use the Ethernet port to create a wired connection to your laptop or other wired devices and enjoy speeds of up to 1 Gbps.

Set up, monitor your data usage, share access, and change WiFi settings on the 2.4-inch color LCD touchscreen.

With the MR6150, you get a secure private WiFi connection for your phones, tablets, and laptops in trains, hotels, airports, and other places providing public WiFi.

To ensure that you have premium performance and power, the MR6150 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X62 5G modem. The powerful battery delivers up to 13 hours of battery life so that you can always stay online.

The Netgear MR6150 is the best 5G router that provides a secure mobile WiFi connection for you on the go, at home, or while traveling. It is suitable for areas with poor coverage or internet service.

• Speed: 5 Gbps
• Wireless Protocol: WiFi 6
• WiFi Range: 2000 sq. ft, up to 32 devices
• Bands: Tri-Band
• Ports: 1 Ethernet
• Supported Carriers: AT&T and T-Mobile
• Secure WiFi.
• Portable making it great for the road.
• Great battery life.
• Reliable and fast speeds.
• Not compatible with all carriers.

4. Cudy LT500D (Budget Friendly)

Design  .

The Cudy LT500D is designed with AC1200 dual-band WiFi and an integrated 4G LTE modem. You just need to insert a SIM card, switch the router on, and enjoy stable, fast WiFi at home.

The LT500D delivers download speeds of up to 150 Mbps. It offers a better user experience by allowing you to use both the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands . You can use the 2.4 GHz band for easy tasks such as web browsing and use the 5 GHz band for bandwidth-intensive tasks such as streaming or online gaming.

The Cudy LT500D ensures that you are always online because you can use it as a backup or primary internet connection. To use it as a backup router, just connect an ethernet cable to the LAN/WAN port. Use the port as the primary internet source and the 4G network as backup. If the LAN/WAN internet service does not work, it will automatically enable the 4G service.

The LT500D comes with a built-in VPN that enables the router to connect to the server and transfer encrypted online traffic and data. You can use this feature to create your home network with your school or work network.

You can use the DDNS function to bind your home IP address to a custom domain name, which ensures remote management is possible.

The LT500D is easy to set up. All you need to do is insert the SIM card into the router and enter the PIN on the web configuration page to begin enjoying a fast and stable wireless. The graphical management interface is easy to use and it enables you to manage and monitor the network easily.

The DNS encryption protects your privacy and helps to prevent manipulation and eavesdropping.

The Cudy LT500D is a budget-friendly 4G modem router that can provide high-speed internet in areas where the signal is unavailable or weak such as rural homes, holiday cabins, a boat, remote cameras, and RVs.

• Wireless Protocol: WiFi 5
• WiFi Range: 1200 sq. ft
• Decent speeds.
• Good coverage.
• Stable throughput.
• Great security features.
• Incompatible with Verizon.

5. NRadio C2000 (Best Portable Router)

The NRadio C2000 works with T-Mobile and AT&T. All you need to do is insert your Nano SIM card and enjoy a reliable connection as it delivers a downloading speed of up to 150 Mbps.

The C2000 is suitable to be used in places where wired networks are not available such as boats, RV, or vacation cabins. It provides a better user experience as it allows you to use both bands and connect to about 128 devices at the same time.

Setting up the NRadio C2000 is simple and secure. With only two steps, you will enjoy a stable and fast wireless network with just two steps. First, insert the SIM card into the cellular router and then connect it to the router.

The NRadio C2000 comes with high gain 4G antennas and professional built-in WiFi antennas to improve the signal quality of WiFi and 4G LTE, which is needed for creating WiFi connections from long distances.

We compared the coverage of the C2000 and a phone-generated mobile hotspot using the same network and found the C2000 completely outperformed the phone hotspot.  

The C2000 is compact and slim, easy to carry, and light, making it the perfect accessory to take with you when traveling.

It comes with a cellular and wired failover, meaning that you first get access to the wired broadband internet access and then it automatically turns to cellular internet if the wired broadband stops working. When the wired broadband is recovered, it then switches back.

The NRadio C2000 is the best portable 4G router that is suitable for those traveling a lot and needing a constant connection to the internet.

• Speed: Up to 1.2 Gbps
• WiFi Range: 1000 sq. ft.
• Ports: 1 WAN/LAN and 1 LAN
• Highly portable.
• The port setup is decent.
• Great coverage.
• Easy to install.
• Reliable speeds.
• It is not compatible with AT&T prepaid cards.

6. Alcatel HH41NH (Best For Multiple Carriers)

The Alcatel HH41NH is compatible with most cellular network providers. It supports upload speeds of up to 50 Mbps and download speeds of up to 150 Mbps.

The HH41NH comes with two antennas that enable you to have a coverage of up to 1000 sq. ft. and connect to 32 devices.

The Alcatel HH41NH has two-gigabit ports that allow you to connect any wired device including a laptop, tablet, and more. Ethernet speeds are only applicable when the HH41NH is paired with cable internet.

This device comes with a few security features such as WPA2, VPN passthrough, and guest access. Our testers found enabling guest access to be very easy to implement, and a great way to protect your network.

You can use the VPN passthrough to keep your identity safe by staying behind the router’s firewall when accessing a remote network. The VPN keeps your data encrypted while the guest access allows users to access the internet temporarily.

The Alcatel HH41NH is a mid-tier router with a SIM card slot that meets most of your internet needs including email sending, HD streaming, and web surfing.

The Alcatel HH41NH is suitable for users looking for an affordable device that supports multiple carriers and offers decent features such as multi-device handling capacity and decent coverage.

• Speed: 150 Mbps
• Wireless Protocol: 11b
• WiFi Range 1000 sq. ft
• Bands: Single Band
• Ports: 2 Ethernet
• Supported Carriers: Unlocked For Any GSM Standard SIM
• Good device handling capacity.
• Less security features.

7. D-Link DWR-921 (Basic LTE Router)

The D-Link DWR-921 works well with major cellular companies and delivers download speeds of up to 150 Mbps. This level of speed allows you to do mobile gaming, web surfing, HD streaming, and other light tasks.

This LTE router comes with two antennas that enable it to provide a coverage of up to 800 sq. ft and connect to around 15 devices. 

The D-Link DWR-921 comes with four Ethernet ports which allows you to establish faster wired internet connections. You can use the port to connect bandwidth-consuming devices such as laptops, computers, and more to experience better streaming quality.

This device comes with great security features including WPA2, SPI firewall, and NAT firewall. The WPA2 encrypts most of the data that is transmitted over the network.

The Network Address Translation (NAT) firewall and Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall help to prevent access to any malicious websites and keep away most external threats.

If you are looking for a basic LTE router that delivers great online connections and is compatible with major cellular networks, the D-Link DWR-921_E is a good option.

• Speed: 300 Mbps
• Wireless Protocol: 11n
• WiFi Range: 800 sq. ft
• Supported Carriers: T-Mobile, Verizon, & AT&T
• Reliable and stable speed.
• Comes with four ethernet ports.

Cons  

• Average device-handling capacity and coverage.

Factors To Consider When Looking For The Best Router With A SIM Card Slot

5G/LTE SIM Card Support 

To maximize on internet speeds by reducing latency, opting for a router with 5G/LTE SIM support is an ideal choice compared to 4G/LTE.

Given that 5G is now widely adopted, most routers in 2024 that contain a SIM card slot will feature 5G/LTE support. 5G has the potential to be nearly 10 times faster than 4G, due to its use of the high-frequency millimetre wave system. 5G wavelengths vary from 30 to 300 GHz, compared to wavelengths of 6 GHz and below for 4G/LTE.

Additional benefits of 5G/LTE SIM card support include faster download speeds, OFDM encoding, and greater cell density, meaning they can support more users at the same time while maintaining a strong internet connection.

If you own a 4G/LTE SIM but purchase a router with 5G SIM card support, you don’t need to worry as 5G SIM routers are compatible with 4G SIMs. What they are unable to do however is convert the 4G network into a 5G network. To do that, you will have to upgrade your SIM. The router will still operate but use a 4G network.

Carrier Compatibility 

In terms of carrier compatibility, you should prioritize a router that is unlocked and therefore enables you to use any mobile network that operates within the country of use.

Something to look out for is pay-monthly versus pre-paid SIM compatibility. The majority of devices will be compatible with pay-monthly SIMs, but some may not be compatible with pre-paid SIMs, such as those from AT&T.

Also, note that some SIMs with limited data plans may not work in a SIM card router. This is due to carrier data throttling in an attempt to prevent internet overuse.

If you own SIMs from multiple networks, having a router that is compatible with many carriers is advantageous as you can test to see which carrier provides the best speed and coverage in your given location.

WiFi Coverage 

Although the information on WiFi coverage is not always easily available, you should expect a router with a SIM card slot to at minimum cover 1000 sq ft.

The coverage figure can be tricky to estimate, however, and often the figure presented is theoretical. This is due to unknown obstacles (concrete walls, bookshelves) or interferences (microwaves, fridges) which all impact coverage, but can be very specific to a household.

The location of the household is especially important for the coverage potential of a router using a SIM slot. Rural locations typically have weaker mobile networks for example, so the coverage may be weaker in rural areas compared to urban areas.

As a general rule, the real coverage of a router will be anywhere between 70% to 120% of the advertised figure (if available). Try to locate your router in a spot where there are minimal obstacles or interferences to help increase the coverage.

Security Features & Router Management 

Purchasing a device with quality security features is important, as it will enable you to keep your network secure.

Security features to look out for on 5G/LTE routers include WPA3, which is the latest certification standard and is the hardest for intruders to penetrate. The auto-firmware update feature is useful to keep you updated with the latest software developments while having VPN support encrypt most data shared over the network.

Depending on the router manufacturer, you can purchase advanced security settings and parental control features such as those provided by Netgear Armor or TP-Link HomeShield Pro.

In terms of router management, most LTE/5G routers can be controlled via a mobile application. This enables users to restart the device and review usage levels and parental controls. Many routers also enable guest access, which ensures new users don’t connect to your secure network.

LTE/5G SIM Card Router vs. Mobile Hotspot   Device 

The main difference between an LTE/5G SIM router and a mobile hotspot is portability. LTE/5G routers are designed to be stationary and provide internet access via a mobile phone network, while a mobile hotspot device is much smaller, and provides internet access on the go.

The advantage of LTE/5G SIM routers is that they maintain the functionality of regular routers, such as having multiple LAN ports for wired connections, and can connect to many devices at the same time.

Mobile hotspot devices do not typically have LAN ports for wired connections and can only establish a few simultaneous internet connections at the same time. Their main advantage is portability, with the devices having a built-in battery to enable internet access when a power source is not available.

Mobile hotspot devices should not be confused with generating a hotspot from your mobile phone. Mobile hotspot devices require the SIM card to be slotted into the device, while a mobile hotspot is generated from your mobile phone, requiring no external device. Generating WiFi from your phone is very convenient, however, it can quickly drain your phone battery and reduce the bandwidth available for you to use on your phone.  

Are 4G/LTE Routers Compatible With All Telecom Operators?  

4G/LTE routers are compatible with all telecom operators, but the crucial aspect is the account type and services which may affect compatibility.

For example, if you have a limited data plan the SIM may not work in a 4G/LTE router as the accounts often have carrier data throttling to prevent over-use. Prepaid SIMs may also not be compatible with a 4G/LTE router.  

How Does A SIM Card Router Work?  

Once you slot an active SIM into a card slot in a router, the device will start communicating with the cell towers of the carrier to gain internet access and create a WiFi signal.

Users can then log into the WiFi network to gain internet access.

What’s The Difference Between A 4G/LTE Router and A Mobile Hotspot Device?  

The main differences between a 4G/LTE router and a mobile hotspot device are size, ports, and portability.

4G/LTE routers resemble the appearance and size of a regular router but include a SIM card slot. They need to be permanently connected to a power source and are fitted with various ports for ethernet connections.

Mobile hotspot devices are much smaller, often fitting in the palm. These devices are easy to transport and provide on-the-go internet access. They typically only include a charging port, so cannot enable wired connections.

What Are The Benefits Of Using A 4G/LTE Router Over Mobile Data?  

While using mobile data is sufficient for many personal internet uses a 4G/LTE router is beneficial for users who are doing high-consumption activities such as online gaming, streaming, or video conferencing.

A 4G/LTE router can increase the number of devices connected to the network, and improve internet speeds, and network reliability through features such as external antennas and beamforming.

Final Words

A router with a SIM card allows you to connect to the internet through using mobile networks. It is beneficial when your internet connection is down, traveling, and need to use the internet in rural areas.

If you are having difficulties deciding which router to buy, our recommendation for the best router with a SIM card slot is the Netgear LAX20 which features WiFi 6 technology that delivers faster speeds of up to 1.8 Gbps which enables you to stream, download, and transfer 1.5 times faster than the previous technology. The device is also compatible with most mobile carriers.

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Best eSIM Hotspot Routers in 2023 (For Remote Work & Travel)

Portable WiFi eSIM routers are must-have travel accessories for people who travel in groups or work while they’re exploring new places. Sure, you can set up an eSIM hotspot without a router, but it will drain your device’s battery faster than you can say ‘router’.

The eSIM hotspot routers I’m about to tell you all about are all pocket-sized, have large batteries, and support 4G at the very least. As long as you pair them with an eSIM that supports high-speed internet access and data sharing, you’ll quickly become the favorite in your travel group thanks to the high-speed WiFi coming out from your pocket.

Top Product Overview

Top products, mogo s2 esim global mobile router.

MOGO S2 is a very good router with eSIM support and many functionalities. It’s a 4G router that supports download speeds of up to 150 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50 Mbps. The router has a battery capacity of 2000mAh, a USB-C port for charging, and it supports wireless charging.

Also, this router has a tiny display on the front that keeps all the important information at a glance. You can see the battery percentage, WiFi speed, data consumption, password, and other important information

However, it works only with MOGO eSIMs. Although the data plans from MOGO are generally inexpensive, the provider doesn’t operate in nearly as many countries as the other providers, so you’d be heavily limited.

Also, MOGO doesn’t offer any unlimited data plans, and for many countries, the largest data package they offer is 10 GB. It might sound like a lot, but if you have 4-5 people browsing TikTok on the WiFi, you can burn through that in a day.

The upside of this design is that you can easily control everything through a single app. The downside is that you’ll have no use for this router in too many countries.

• USB-C charging port
• Fast internet
• Display with important information
• Only supports MOGO eSIMs
• Battery capacity is small

eSunFi eSIM Mobile WiFi Hotspot Router

The eSunFi mobile router supports dual-band WiFi and works in 200+ countries all over the world. It supports both Bluetooth and VPN, and it allows up to 10 devices to be connected to it at the same time.

The router has a USB-C port for quick charging and supports 3G and 4G networks with a maximum WiFi rate of 433 Mbps. It also has a convenient display on the front that offers all the important information at a glance: network speed, password, signal strength, battery percentage, etc.

The downside of this router is that it only works with three eSIM providers: Ubigi, KeepGo, and Links Field. None of those are known as affordable eSIM providers, and although the router is extremely convenient, it’s unlikely to be a money saver because KeepGo and Ubigi have higher prices than most other eSIM providers.

• Dual-band WiFi
• Bluetooth and VPN
• 3G and 4G support
• Supports only 3 eSIM providers

Roam-ON R10 eSim Mifi Router

The Roam-ON R10 router is a very portable 4G router. It has a battery capacity of 5,000 mAh for prolonged battery life, and it can support a connection with up to 5 devices at the same time. The maximum upload speed with this router is 50 Mbps, while the maximum download speed is 150 Mbps.

Additionally, this router also has a slot for a physical SIM card, so it can work with local SIM cards. This is a great way to get coverage in destinations where eSIM is not supported, but also if you want to save money on data packs.

The Roam-ON router only works with eSIM data plans purchased on the company’s website, and those tend to be rather expensive. The cheapest plan is 5.5 Euros per day for just 500 MB of data, which is way too expensive. You’ll need to pay 10 Euros per day for unlimited internet, and that’s not even available in most countries.

• Easy control via the app
• Large battery capacity
• Expensive data plans
• Maximum download speed is 150Mbps

Teltonika Routers

Teltonika is a tech company that manufactures a variety of different internet-related products, including all sorts of routers. This company makes industrial routers that are some of the best on the market, but also some of the most expensive.

This manufacturer offers many routers that support a physical SIM card, and I’ve also seen a version that supports embedded SIMs, but it’s available only upon inquiry. Also, Teltonika routers are not exactly portable or pocket-friendly; not only are they bulky, but they also need to be plugged into an outlet to work.

The upside is that this will probably be the best eSIM router. It should work with any eSIM, but the configuration process won’t be simple. The downside is that the router will cost you a lot of money (regular routers are on sale for $300+), and you can’t actually take it places.

I think this router could be a good solution for van lifers who want an eSIM-compatible router for their home on wheels, but not for travelers who want to have an internet connection while exploring foreign cities on foot.

• Industrial routers
• Physical SIM card support
• eSIM routers available upon inquiry
• Not portable

What Is An eSIM Router & How Does It Work?

An eSIM router is a pocket router with an eSIM chip. It works in the same way as a standard SIM card router but with the benefit of supporting eSIM technology. What this router does is connect to the mobile network provided by the eSIM, and then turn that 4G/5G connection into WiFi that is easily accessible to everyone in your travel group.

Just like with any other WiFi connection, you can set up the name and password for protection. The network speed largely depends on the eSIM data plan you purchase, and I highly recommend referring to our eSIM guides for different countries so you can be certain which network providers offer the best and fastest internet.

Benefits of Using an eSIM Router

If you’ve ever been the designated hotspot sharer during a group trip, I feel your pain. It drains the battery on your smartphone very quickly, so you have to carry around portable chargers lest your phone runs out of battery and you’re left without any internet access.

With a physical SIM card, it’s possible to transfer it to a different device, but this can’t be done with eSIMs.

Another advantage of an eSIM router is that it’s capable of offering a faster internet connection than mobile phones. Well, it depends on the router and the type of network it can connect to, but you can usually get information on the maximum upload and download speeds for each eSIM router.

How to Set Up an eSIM Router

Most eSIM routers have accompanying smartphone apps that let you complete the setup process. The first thing you need to do is purchase data package for the router, which is usually going to be an eSIM from the provider supported by the router.

Unfortunately, you usually have to stick with one or two providers that a specific router supports and it’s usually the providers with the most expensive data plans.

Buy the eSIM plan, but don’t activate it on your phone. When the activation code or instructions arrive, open the app for your eSIM router and find the option to connect to your phone first, usually with Bluetooth.

This should allow you to access the setup of the router, and then you just need to select the option to add an eSIM/data plan/data package and follow the on-screen instructions. Some routers will allow you to scan a QR code, while others might require you to input the eSIM details manually.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an eSIM router

The first thing you should consider when choosing an eSIM router is which eSIM providers it supports. Some providers are better than others, and this is especially important for network coverage in different countries. If you like a router but see that it’s not supported in several of the countries you plan to visit in the near future, there’s no point in buying the router.

Battery is another important factor to consider. Ideally, the router should be able to stay turned on the entire day with multiple connected devices.

Another factor to consider is the type of network supported and maximum WiFi speed. The best routers will support primarily 4G and 5G, but also 2G and 3G as backups. Internet speeds should be at least 150 Mbps for downloads, and I wouldn’t settle for anything less than 50 Mbps for uploads.

Then there’s the number of devices supported. Consider how many people you normally travel with, but also how many devices you plan to use. It’s going to be at least a laptop and a smartphone, right?

Well, if you’re traveling with three other people and all of you want to connect two devices to the router, that’s six devices minimum, so a router that only supports up to 5 simultaneous devices wouldn’t work for you.

Finally, consider whether the router supports a physical SIM card. I know we’re talking primarily about eSIM routers, but the technology is still very much new and expensive. If you get a router that supports physical SIM cards, you can probably save a lot of money by buying and using local SIM cards, instead of purchasing overpriced plans that charge you $70 for just 5 GB of data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i use an esim router for international travel.

Yes, you can use an eSIM router for international travel, but not every router will work in every single country. Double-check the restrictions, and make sure that eSIM is supported in the country you are traveling to, to make the most of your eSIM router.

Can I use an eSIM router with a VPN for added privacy & security?

Yes, you can absolutely use an eSIM router with a VPN. Many routers have built-in VPNs for maximum privacy and protection.

What network types can eSIM routers connect to?

It depends on the specific routers. Some routers support everything up to 5G and emit dual-band WiFi, while others support only 3G or 4G, with a single-band WiFi connection.

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6 Best Wi-Fi Routers With SIM Card Slot

Sumukh has a knack for simplifying tech for the masses and helping consumers pick the right gadgets with his in-depth insights and reviews. He decided to hide his engineering degree in the closet to pursue his passion for writing. Over the past 6 years, he has contributed with guides, reviews, and detailed opinions to notable publications like TechPP and XDA-Developers – before donning the Editor hat at Guiding Tech Media.

Prateek is an avid gamer and he has a heap of consoles, both old and new. He has been writing about technology and shooting consumer tech videos for almost six years. He was previously tasked with reviewing gadgets at 91Mobiles and MrPhone. When he's not hyper-focusing on a new RPG or talking about tech, he likes to hit the gym to stay on top of his fitness game.

A good Wi-Fi router is essential whether you’re working from home, streaming your favorite shows, or gaming online. If you don’t have access to a traditional router, consider investing in a Wi-Fi router with a SIM card slot. These routers allow you to connect to the internet using a cellular data plan. We’ve shortlisted the best options below, so let’s take a look.

TP-Link N150

The TP-Link N150 is an affordable and easy-to-use Wi-Fi router. It’s also very compact and portable, making it a great choice for travel. However, unlike the rest of the products on this list, the N150 doesn’t have a dedicated SIM slot. Instead, it uses a simple workaround.

To that end, you must use a 4G LTE wireless dongle to insert your SIM and then use the dongle with the router to use the cellular connection. This slightly inflates the overall cost, but the package is still quite affordable. Once you’ve inserted the SIM card, switch to the 3G/4G switch on the side, and you should be ready. Since it’s powered by a standard microUSB port, you can even power it with a battery pack.

What We Like

• Budget-friendly
• Small and lightweight
• MicroUSB powered
• Compatible with most 3G and 4G LTE networks

What We Don’t Like

• Requires an external 4G LTE wireless dongle
• Speed limitations
• Limited advanced features

Alcatel Link HH41NH

The Alcatel Link HH41NH is an unlocked SIM card router that accepts a 4G SIM card and can achieve maximum speeds of up to 150Mbps. You also get a port to attach a telephone line to the router.

The Alcatel Link Hub 4G LTE router works with a 4G SIM worldwide, no matter which carrier you use. So, you can use the router to access your mobile data connection. There’s a WAN port and a LAN port for a wired connection. Like the TP-Link N150, the Alcatel Link HH41NH is powered by a single microUSB port. And, thanks to its diminutive size, you can use it on the go, too.

• Globally compatible with most 3G and 4G LTE networks
• RJ11 telephone port

NRadio C2000

The C2000 is a dual-purpose router from NRadio. It features a LAN/WAN port with support for speeds up to 1,200Mbps and a SIM card slot. You can use this slot to facilitate the primary internet connection or even as a failover connection if your broadband goes haywire.

However, it is worth noting that while using the SIM card, the speed is limited to 150Mbps, similar to the other products on this list. The router features a WAN and a LAN port. You can use the WAN port to connect the C2000 to your broadband modem. Additionally, you can use the LAN port to provide wired connectivity to another device, such as a PC or a printer.

• Dual-band Wi-Fi
• AC1200 speeds for normal router mode
• The setup process is slightly complex

The Cudy LT500 offers a range of advanced features, which are usually limited to more expensive routers. For instance, the 4G router has built-in PPTP/L2TP/OpenVPN/WireGuard VPN Clients. As such, you can set up a VPN for your router and safeguard your privacy.

Compact yet powerful, the Cudy LT500 offers 1200Mbps dual-band Wi-Fi and 4G LTE connectivity. Its Nano SIM card slot ensures a reliable internet connection even in areas with limited wired infrastructure. Similar to the NRadio C2000, you can configure the LT500 to work primarily with your broadband and use the SIM network as a failsafe.

• 5dBi High Gain antennas
• Built-in VPN clients
• Not portable

NETGEAR Nighthawk 4 LAX20

Netgear is another brand that is quite popular and reliable. The Nighthawk Nighthawk 4 LAX20 is a 4G LTE router with a SIM card slot and Wi-Fi 6 support. It is a 4-stream router that can achieve a maximum download speed of 1.8Gbps via Wi-Fi and connect to 20 devices simultaneously.

The Netgear Nighthawk AX4 is an expensive SIM card router. That said, it makes up for its MRP with advanced features like support for Wi-Fi 6 technology. This ensures faster connectivity with better signal strength. With multiple Ethernet ports, it caters to the needs of gamers and home office enthusiasts who require stable and fast connectivity. As for 4G LTE connectivity, the LAX20 supports SIMs from all major carriers.

• Best coverage of any router on this list
• Wi-Fi 6 support for faster speeds
• Multiple Ethernet ports for wired connections
• Robust and durable design
• Easy-to-use Nighthawk app for network management
• Netgear Armor powered by Bitdefender for online security
• No support for 5G bands

If you are specifically looking for a 5G Wi-Fi router with a SIM card slot, then the Cudy P5 is a great option. While expensive, it’s one of the rare Wi-Fi routers supporting a faster network speed. Add to that, it houses not one but two SIM card slots.

Packed with cutting-edge technology, this router not only supports the latest 5G standards but also harnesses the efficiency of WiFi 6, setting the stage for a seamless online experience. The dual SIM card slots add a layer of versatility, allowing users to harness the power of two separate cellular networks for enhanced reliability and coverage. Note that both slots support 5G NR/SA/NSA connectivity with downlink speeds of up to 2.4 Gbps.

• Blazing-fast 5G connectivity with speeds up to 2.4 Gbps
• Dual SIM redundancy for uninterrupted connectivity
• Wi-Fi 6 technology for expanded coverage
• Advanced features
• User-friendly interface
• Very expensive
• Overkill for basic users

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 30 July, 2024

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

Nomad Internet claims to have a 5G SIM modem/router.

I have a 4G WIFI MODEM and it needs a sim card where can I get one

You shared a knowledgeable information. Thank you.

I asked for wifi router with sim card slot alongwith traditional cat 6 or fibre cable input connectivity both. If traditional not working, 2nd connectivity with sim card gets working. Can you provide details on this.

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• Travel Essentials & Accessories

10 Best Travel Routers for Frequent Travelers

Published: August 2, 2022

Modified: December 27, 2023

by Angela Magsajo

• Hotel Reviews
• Tech & Gear
• Travel Tips
• Travel Accessories

Frequent travelers know the importance of bringing a reliable travel router with them during a trip. As the name suggests, travel routers let you stay connected while on vacation or business trips. They work the same way as the internet router you have at home. The main difference is the fact that they are more lightweight and compact compared to a regular home router. There are even models that you can easily fit inside your weekender bag or even your pants’ pockets!

How does a travel router work? It acts as an access point and connects your devices to the Internet, either by using an Ethernet cable or wireless signals from an already existing internet network. May this be the Wi-Fi in your hotel room, at the airport lounge, or even the 4G or 5G network of your phone. But, the best travel router does more than just allow for Wi-Fi on the go . Newer models are now equipped with Virtual Private Network (VPN) that protect your personal data when connecting to public networks. Additionally, you can find ones that double as a power bank or portable hard drive.

Here’s the rundown of the top 10 best portable Wi-Fi routes for travel! 

1. Best Overall: TP-Link TL-WR902AC AC750 Travel Router

Read More Reviews Photo from Amazon

The TP-Link TL-WR902AC is a versatile travel router . It boasts five different modes that cater to the type of connection you need. But, the two main modes that you’ll most likely be using when on the go are Router and Hotspot Mode. When in Router Mode, you can create your very own private wireless network by plugging it into your hotel’s Ethernet jack. Hotspot Mode, on the other hand, allows you to connect to any public Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) Access Point. Moreover, thanks to its dual-band capability, you get a better range and signal strength.

On top of that, this TP-Link travel router is incredibly easy to set up and use. You can switch between the different modes with just one press of a button. Another highlight of this dual-band router is its portable design that fits in the palm of your hand or the pocket of your travel purse . However, the TL-WR902AC doesn’t have a built-in battery. You will need to connect it to a power source, such as an electrical outlet, power bank, or laptop via the mic ro-USB port. The USB port can also be used for file sharing or charging devices. 

• Extremely portable
• Three-in-one device 
• Dual-band router
• No built-in battery

Get the TP-Link TL-WR902AC AC750 Travel Router on Amazon now.

2. Best for Remote Areas: Netgear Nighthawk M1 

Traveling to far-flung areas? When traversing through the remote paths of the Appalachian Mountains with only a cellular connection to stay connected , you will need a reliable wireless router . The Netgear Nighthawk M1 is exactly that and more. As a premium travel router , it utilizes 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) connections to provide maximum download speeds of up to one gigabit per second (Gbps). What’s more, you get upload speeds of up to 150 megabits per second (Mbps). It’s important to note, though, that it performs better with SIM cards from AT&T and T-Mobile than other carriers.

This travel router provides a steady connection to up to 20 devices at the same time, which you can track on its LCD screen. You can likewise monitor your data usage, signal strength, and battery life on the display. Besides being a portable Wi-Fi router , the Netgear Nighthawk M1 is also a power bank with a 5,040 milliampere-hour (mAH) rechargeable battery. You can use it to store files thanks to the SD card reader and USB port, as well. When you connect your device to the router’s network, you can easily access and manage all of your files.

• LED screen for tracking data consumption 
• Connect up to 20 devices
• Three-in-one device
• Works best with specific networks only

Get the Netgear Nighthawk M1 on Amazon now.

3. Best for Overseas Travel: GlocalMe U3 Mobile Hotspot

Planning to visit the best places to travel without a passport for your next overseas adventure? Then the GlocalMe U3 Mobile Hotspot is a companion you will want with you. While most wireless hotspot-type devices rely on SIM cards to establish a connection, the GlocalMe U3 eliminates this by utilizing its own secure full frequency network. By doing so, you get a faster and more stable connection. It supports 4G LTE with maximum download speeds of 150 Mbps and upload speeds of 50 Mbps.

The best part? It can provide portable internet service in over 140 countries across the globe, so you don’t have to worry about losing connection with your loved ones at home. It can also connect to 10 different devices simultaneously! And while you don’t need a separate SIM card to connect to the internet, it does feature a SIM card slot that allows you to use your own if needed. However, the notable downside to this handheld router is its weight. It may boast a slim and compact design, but it is fairly heavy compared to other options in the market. This is because of its 3,000 mAh battery which powers the device for roughly 13 hours.

• Works in 140+ countries
• Flexible data plans 
• No SIM card required

Get the GlocalMe U3 Mobile Hotspot on Amazon now.

4. Best for Traveling in Europe : TP-LINK M7350

Planning a holiday to the best Southern Europe destinations ? You may want to bring the TP-Link M7350 with you. This portable Wi-Fi hotspot provides users with great connectivity using 4G LTE networks while traveling in European cities. With download speeds of up to 150 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50 Mbps, you won’t have trouble streaming videos, downloading files, and uploading all your vacation photos online with this in your arsenal. Share the connection with up to 10 devices. It features an LCD screen which is a major bonus since you can see all information such as data usage, battery life, signal strength, and connected devices. 

You can also manage and set limits to the data usage and connections using the dedicated smartphone companion app. It has a rechargeable battery with a 2,000 mAh capacity. This should keep you going for around eight hours, depending on usage. It isn’t the longest battery life out there, but it should be enough for a quick day trip. Furthermore, this mobile router features a micro SD card slot, so you can easily share files with other devices and users connected to the same network. 

• Useful LCD screen
• Supports up to 10 devices
• Smartphone companion app
• Lackluster battery life
• Works only in European countries

Get the TP-LINK M7350 on Amazon now.

5. Best for Hotels: D-Link Wi-Fi AC750 DAP-1520

High-speed internet is among the top hotel amenities to look out for when booking your accommodation. If you’re on the hunt for the best travel router for hotels , look no further than the D-Link Wi-Fi AC750. This travel router for hotel Wi-Fi connections acts as a range extender , boosting the signal of your room’s already existing wireless network. As such, you don’t have to worry about any dead zones. 

It can support Wireless AC speeds up to 750 Mbps. And due to its dual-band capabilities, you can connect more devices to it without sacrificing speed. Furthermore, this wireless Wi-Fi router is incredibly simple to set up. All you need to do is plug the D-Link travel router into a power outlet, establish a connection to your hotel’s Wi-Fi, and then you’re good to go. Note that it has no ports for either Ethernet or USB cables, which limits connection to wireless signals only. But for the affordable price, we’re willing to overlook this slight hitch.

• Budget-friendly
• Dual-band capabilities
• No Ethernet or USB port
• Bulky design

Get the D-Link Wi-Fi AC750 DAP-1520 on Amazon now.

6. Best Mobile Hotspot : Verizon Orbic Speed Mobile Hotspot

The Verizon Orbic Speed is a small but powerful mobile hotspot . Boasting dual-band 802.11 AC technology and 4G LTE networks, you get a fast, reliable connection with a wider range. It can handle up to 10 different devices simultaneously. It’s also equipped with a 3,000 mAh removable battery that lasts up to 12 hours of continuous use. You can check everything from its battery life, data consumption, and signal strength with just a glance thanks to its easy-to-read LCD screen. 

The most notable downside to the Verizon travel router, however, is that you will be limited to Verizon data plans. Another drawback is its lack of ports for Ethernet cables, antennae, flash, or hard drives.

• Easy-to-read LCD screen
• Dual-band technology
• Only works with Verizon SIM cards
• No external ports

Get the Verizon Orbic Speed Mobile Hotspot on Amazon now.

7. Best Budget: GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2

Finding the best travel router doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Valued at less than $30, the GL-MT300N-V2 is an affordable portable router from GL.iNet . Equipped with a powerful chipset, it has a wireless data transfer speed of 300 Mbps. Meanwhile, you get 100 Mbps when you connect your device using the USB or Ethernet port . 

It has both a built-in firewall and open-source VPN capabilities to ensure your online security. However, configuring the VPN client of this router can be difficult for novice users. This travel router also doesn’t have a built-in battery, which is a bit inconvenient. You will need to connect it to a power source, like a laptop or power bank , for it to function. 

• VPN capabilities 
• Affordable price tag
• Hard to set up

Get the GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 on Amazon now.

8. Best Security: GL.iNet GL-AR750S-Ext

The GL.iNet GL-AR750S-Ext is a travel router that not only amplifies public internet connections but also has its own VPN server that actively protects your personal data from falling into the wrong hands. Featuring multiple open sources and programmable VPN protocols, it protects all of your data with ease when browsing the net. 

In addition, it comes with a built-in firewall, which ensures an even more secure internet connection when in public spaces like hotel lobbies, airports, coffee shops, etc. It has three-gigabit ports, so you can connect up to three different wired devices. On top of that, you can also connect to a network wirelessly, allowing for more flexibility.

Admittedly, though, it’s not the easiest thing to set up. You will need to configure and tweak it to achieve optimal performance. This VPN router also doubles as a storage device because of its built-in MicroSD card reader. Access and manage files when your laptop or other smart devices are connected to the same network.

• Built-in VPN server and firewall
• Can be used wired or wirelessly
• MicroSD card slot for file storage

Get the GL.iNet GL-AR750S-Ext on Amazon now.

9. Best Wireless Access Point : GL.iNet GL-AR300M16-Ext

The GL.iNet GL-AR300M16-Ext is another unassuming travel router that’s rich in features. It can be used as Wireless Access Point (WAP), a Wi-FI booster, or as an independent router when connected to a mobile hotspot . It even features two detachable external Wi-Fi antennae that help improve the signal of your device’s connection even while hiking through remote areas like the mountains in New Zealand . However, it runs on a single 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) band frequency, so it may be noticeably slower than routers using double-band channels.

That said, it boasts advanced security protocols and encryption technology, including VPN capabilities. It comes pre-installed with both OpenVPN and WireGuard services, allowing you to connect to over 30 VPN service providers. All things considered, you get an extra layer of cybersecurity wherever you go. 

• Multiple configuration options
• Two detachable antennae
• VPN capabilities
• Single-band router

10. Best Multi-Purpose: NewQ Filehub AC750

The NewQ Filehub AC750 is an all-in-one device you’ll want with you when traveling. As a portable wireless Wi-Fi router , it has three network modes: Access Point (AP) Mode, Router Mode, and Bridge Mode. The NewQ Filehub AC750 is a dual-band router and can support internet speeds up to 1300 Mbps. However, expect slower internet speeds when it’s in Bridge Mode since it cannot support 5 GHz frequencies.

On top of it being a travel router , you can also use it for wireless data transfer. It has an SD slot and a USB port for plugging in a storage device. Transfer and manage photos, videos, music, and other documents from them using your phone, tablet, laptop, or other devices when you connect them to the same network. This wireless travel router also works as a power bank, so you don’t have to worry about your gadgets dying when out and about.

• Multiple connection modes
• Not all modes support 5 GHz channels

Get the NewQ Filehub AC750 on Amazon now.

What to Look For in the Best Travel Router

Wireless frequencies .

Photo by tonktiti on Adobe Stock

Most travel routers utilize either single or dual-band technology, which refers to the frequencies they support. A single-band router hosts a 2.4 GHz signal, while a dual-band router broadcasts both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz signals . The main difference between the two frequencies boils down to speed and range. Wireless portable routes using 2.4 GHz frequencies have a larger range but slower speed, while 5 GHz travel routers are faster, but the coverage area is a bit more limited. A dual-band router can connect to the two bands at the same time, thus providing you with a more stable wireless internet connection . However, the catch is that dual-band travel routers tend to be pricier. 

Keep these differences in mind when choosing a mini router to provide you with internet for travel . A single-band router is a great option for people on a budget whose primary concern is simply surfing the web and sending emails. Meanwhile, if you plan on gaming and streaming high-resolution videos while on vacation, invest in a double-band router .

Ports and Connectivity 

Photo by Vadym on Adobe Stock

Enhanced wireless connectivity is probably one of the main reasons you’re buying a wireless Wi-Fi router . However, you should also consider physical ports when choosing the best travel router for you. While most smartphones and tablets support wireless connections, there are still devices that require a wired connection to a router . And even if your laptop or console does have Wi-Fi capabilities, the internet connection from a wired connection is generally faster, more stable, and more reliable .

If you have a device that needs to be connected via cables, also consider the number of ports you need in a router. Most portable Wi-Fi routers come with one or two Ethernet ports , but you can find others with even more. Additionally, a built-in USB port comes in handy for storing, sharing, and managing files and media over the same network.

Security And Privacy

Photo by Prostock-studio on Adobe Stock

Modern wireless Wi-Fi routers have some security protocols and encryption support to protect users from hackers and other cybercriminals . The bare minimum for most models includes basic firewall protection and a Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) protocol. A firewall scans all the data sent or received over your network, while WPA2 encrypts them. If you want additional protection from other prying eyes on the web, opt for a travel router with a built-in VPN server. Investing in a travel router with VPN support means you are adding an extra layer of protection when online .

Battery and Power

Photo by M-Production on Adobe Stock

If you truly want Wi-Fi for traveling, we recommend investing in a travel router with a rechargeable battery . Unfortunately, some of even the best routers need to be plugged into an outlet. For the few models that do run on battery power, also consider their capacity. The higher the indicated milliampere-hour (mAh), the longer it will last. 

Can’t find a suitable model for you with a rechargeable battery? Look for one with at least a USB port that can be hooked up to a portable battery pack or laptop.

Frequently Asked Questions about Travel Routers

Is a travel router worth it.

Absolutely! It’s worth investing in a travel router, especially if you’re constantly traveling and staying in different hotels or other vacation rentals . Whether you’re on a business trip or a relaxing vacation, a travel router simplifies the process of connecting your gadgets to internet networks. In addition, they also allow for faster and more secure connections. Some models even function as power banks or storage drives.

Is a Travel Router a Hotspot?

Technically speaking, a traditional travel router is different from a hotspot . A travel router relies on an already existing network to provide an internet connection to your devices, while a mobile hotspot uses a cellular network to connect to the internet. But nowadays, you can find travel router models that also act as hotspots, giving you the option to get online either with wireless networks or mobile networks.

Can You Use a Travel Router Without an Internet Connection?

Generally, you cannot use a travel router without an existing network , may this be via a wireless connection or an Ethernet jack. There are a few models in the market that have SIM card slots, however, which gives you the ability to connect to the internet using cellular data.

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What Are Travel Routers? Everything You Need to Know

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Most of us don't travel these days without a full arsenal of gadgets. A phone, a tablet, a laptop, a Kindle, a Chromecast, the list goes on. If that's you, you'll also know that setting them all up on hotel Wi-Fi is a bit of a pain.

The solution is to throw another piece of kit into your bag: a travel router. But what exactly is this, and why do you need one? Let's take a look.

What Is a Travel Router?

Put simply, a travel router is a Wi-Fi router just like the one you've got set up at home, and it works the same way. It's just smaller and more portable, making it more suited for travel.

A travel router is designed to simplify the process of connecting and managing devices on public Wi-Fi networks, whether that means in a hotel, at the airport, or anywhere else.

Most major router manufacturers have travel versions in their product range, including Netgear, D-Link, and more. They can be pretty small, too. The TP-Link Nano routers are almost as small as a credit card, while many other models are comparable in size to a portable phone charger.

Benefits of Travel Routers

The most obvious benefit of a travel router is that it means you don't have to keep adding your devices to the new Wi-Fi networks that you want to use. You keep your devices connected to the travel router instead, and then you only have to connect the travel router to different networks.

This also has the effect of hiding all the devices you've connected to the network—technically, you've only connected one: the travel router. It brings potential security benefits, and it helps you to bypass any arbitrary limits the network owner might have placed on the number of devices you're allowed to connect.

But there are even more benefits.

If the router has an Ethernet port, it can turn a wired internet connection into a wireless one. Travel routers can create a shared network between your connected devices, and many have a USB port that you can use with a flash drive full of media content.

They can also work as wireless extenders that can remove any Wi-Fi dead spots wherever you are. You're unlikely to use this function on the road, but it's a good way to improve Wi-Fi coverage at home .

Drawbacks of Travel Routers

There aren't many downsides, but there are a few things to bear in mind.

First, many travel routers need an external power source, which will limit where you can use them. Second, most need an existing Wi-Fi internet connection to get you online, although some models are available with a built-in SIM card slot for mobile internet connections.

Most importantly, even though they offer some improved security to your devices, they won't protect any data you share over open public Wi-Fi networks. It's important to take the same precautions you would take if you'd connected your laptop to a public network directly.

Related: Dongles vs. Portable Hotspots: Mobile Internet Devices Explained  

What to Look for in a Travel Router

When you're shopping for a travel router, you should look out for the same kinds of features you'd look for in a standard wireless router. On top of that, you might also find a few extra features that will help when you're on the road.

Wi-Fi Standard and Band

As with any router, check what Wi-Fi standard it works on. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is the latest and fastest standard, but if not, then 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) is absolutely fine, and 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) is okay at a push. You should avoid anything older—they will be much slower, more prone to interference, and their age may also suggest they have less modern and less robust security protocols.

Whichever you choose, one that supports the 5 GHz band is preferable. 5 GHz has a smaller range than 2.4 GHz, but it's less susceptible to noise, so it gives you stronger and more reliable signals.

All Wi-Fi 6 routers support 5 GHz, as do those with 802.11ac. Some 802.11n routers are restricted to a single band and only offer 2.4 GHz.

Battery Power

If you want a truly portable solution, then get a travel router that runs off battery power. Unfortunately, many of them don't. If you can't find a suitable model that does, look out for one that can be powered via a USB port. That way, you can plug it into your laptop to use when you're on the road. It's far more convenient than having to search for a power outlet.

Ethernet and USB ports are essentials in a travel router. With Ethernet, you can turn a wired connection that can only be used with a single device (that has an Ethernet port of its own, like a laptop) into a wireless connection that you can use with multiple devices, including phones and tablets.

A USB port has several uses. The main use is for power: some travel routers can be used to charge other devices. Some routers enable you to insert flash drives or portable hard drives and share the media contents stored in them, just like a NAS system does.

Or you can insert a 4G dongle and share your 4G data plan across all your devices.

Some travel routers have a SIM card that you use for this as well. It's less essential, though, because you can use tethering on your smartphone  to do the same job. Just make sure your data plan allows for it.

Multiple Usage Modes

Travel routers have many usage modes that enable them to work in different ways. Not every model will have all of these modes, and they might not always have the same names, so just be aware of that. The five most common modes are:

• AP mode:  Creates a wireless access point from a non-wireless internet connection via an Ethernet cable. For use in locations where there's only access to a wired connection.
• Router mode:  The router connects to the network, and your devices connect to the router. They remain hidden on the network.
• Repeater mode:  The router extends coverage of the existing wireless network. This is a good use for the router when you're at home.
• Bridge mode:  Takes the existing network connection and broadcasts it with a separate network name and password, effectively splitting the network in two.
• Client mode:  Gives wireless capability to any non-wireless device by way of a cabled connection.

You need to activate and configure each mode separately when you use them. Check out our guide on how to set up a travel router for more.

Is a Travel Router for You?

If you travel a lot and take many gadgets with you, it might be worth throwing a travel router in your bag.

Travel routers are great for getting lots of devices onto wireless networks without any hassle. They're ideal for hotel rooms that only offer wired internet. And if you pick the right model you can fill up a memory stick with your favorite movies and stream them to your devices as well.

You can also use your travel router at home. You can set one up as a wireless extender to remove any dead spots from the furthest corners of your house when you aren't at home. It's even possible to push Wi-Fi coverage out into your garden. Or you can use the router to turn your old printer into a rather more useful wireless version.

Now you just need to decide which travel router to buy.

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